Citizen JENIFER FERNANDES Aldona
The stretch near the old Asilo Hospital road in Mapusa has turned into a major health and hygiene concern, with heaps of garbage lying unattended and a foul stench greeting commuters daily. The area, where a garbage segregation point has been set up, shows clear signs of neglect — colourful bins lie unused, and waste is dumped haphazardly by the roadside.
Garbage continues to accumulate until the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) collects it, but by then, stray cattle, dogs and other animals have already rummaged through the waste, scattering it further. After each collection, a layer of thick, wet residue remains on the ground, infested with worms and emitting a strong, nauseating smell that lingers throughout the day.
The stench has affected nearby shops and food stalls, especially in the evenings when vendors open for business but find customers avoiding the area due to the unpleasant conditions. During rains, the situation worsens as dirty water mixed with decomposing waste flows along the roadside, spreading contamination and intensifying the smell.
Despite the infrastructure created for waste segregation, maintenance remains absent. The municipal authorities appear to focus only on collecting garbage while ignoring the cleanup and sanitisation that should follow. The lack of regular monitoring and timely intervention has turned this section of the town into a constant nuisance and a potential breeding ground for disease.
Residents and commuters have urged the authorities to take immediate action and ensure that the site is properly cleaned, maintained, and disinfected. The issue, if left unattended, could soon escalate into a serious public health hazard for the surrounding neighbourhood.
People living in the vicinity fear that if the situation continues unchecked, it could lead to serious health hazards or even an outbreak of disease. They have appealed to the municipal body to address the issue on a priority basis before it worsens further.
