TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The programme on capacity building in solid waste management for self help groups in Margao Municipal Council was embroiled in a row on Saturday.
Opposition councillors claimed that they were not taken into confidence by the civic body, even as GSUDA project consultant Celsa Antao said there’s nothing illegal about the project.
Opposition councillors and Celsa Antao were engaged in a verbal duel in the chamber of the MMC Chief Officer Narayan Sawant. The councillors claimed that they were kept in the dark over the women self help groups being trained for waste collection under the National Urban Livelihood Mission.
Councillors Damu Shirodkar, Tito Cardozo, Sadanand Naik, Babita Naik, Berta Cardozo and Rosy Pereira wondered how the civic body has imparted training for the self help group women when they have not been taken into confidence on the matter. While Sadanand Naik demanded to know how the civic body can go ahead with the collection of garbage collection fees when the council has not given nod for fees for the commercial establishments. Tito Cardozo said the civic body should not implement the SHGs programme in haste given the financial liabilities involved in the exercise.
Celsa Antao, however, denied the allegations. She said she has been coming to the Margao Municipal Council since July, but there was no cooperation from the city fathers. “The self help groups were not restricted to one ward. We have accepted applications received from the councillors. If some councillors have not cooperated, I cannot help it,” she said, adding that she is answerable to the GSUDA and the MMC chief officer who is the ex-officio chairperson of the project.
Former chairperson Savio Coutinho said the civic body has mooted the SHGs for door-to-door waste collection since the civic body is spending Rs 18 lakh on the project every month. “The council had to switch over to self help group system for waste collection to do away with the financial liability involved in door-to-door waste collection. “We have been used to hearing our representatives speak aloud about NIMBY (Not in my back yard) but now it seems like IDYD (I didn’t you don’t)” he added.
