Will Cuncolkars allow Cuncolim Municipal Council to accept the garbage of neighbouring villages? Does the Council want to convert the Historical village into the garbage dump? Is Cuncolim town coming down from binless town to garbage dump town, are the some questions Cuncolkars are asking.

There is heavy discussion on social media and on the every nook and corner and at the tea stalls regarding the Council’s decision to establish the garbage collection centre at the heart of the city.

Cuncolkars are calling this decision of Council as the madness. Cuncolkars are now up in arms to stop the Council to bring their decision to reality.

Recently Chairperson of CMC Polita Carneiro told some media persons that the Council will collect the neigbouring village panchayats’ garbage by setting up a garbage collection centre at the CMC’s acquired land at Kaita near KTC bus Stand on NH17. Some local media had quoted CP and CO regarding this decision. Hearing this news Cuncolkars became furious. Strong reactions are coming now from Cuncolkars who say they will not allow the Council to convert the Historical Village into a Garbage Dump.

On Social Media, WhatsApp groups the Cuncolim Constituency and critics are full of criticism on the Council’s decision. According to the CMC sources, the Council has proposed to set up a garbage collection centre to handle wet and dry waste from village panchayats of Assolna, Velim, Ambelim, Chinchinim, Sarzora and Ambaulim.

Vice Chairperson of CMC Sashank Dessai told Herald that in one of the meetings with CO and CP, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had kept this proposal before the CMC Chairperson.

“We have not promised nor have decided to set up collection centre or to accept the garbage of neighbouring villages. Proposal is on a preliminary stage. No decision has been taken in this regard. We will keep this proposal before the councillors and if there is any objection we will inform CM about the same,” Sashank Dessai said.

“The CM has told to identify 150 sq mts of land to set up a dry waste collection centre. It was not decided to use the land at Kalta. We had just inspected the site and wanted to see whether it is feasible to set up temporary garbage collection centre. Some people are spreading rumours about the decision,” Dessai clarifed.

Cuncolim town is generating about six tonnes of garbage per day Garbage treatment plant can treat 10 tonnes of garbage per day. Council can handle another four tonnes of garbage per day. But Cuncolkars are asking why they should treat others’ garbage in their town. High court has issued strict guidelines to all panchayats to set up garbage collection centres. 

It was Council’s dream to make Cuncolim a binless town. Some years back when Devendra Dessai was the Chairperson, the Council has decided to take out all dust bins from the public places. The Council had given two bins to every household to put dry and wet waste. Council had made arrangements to collect house to house garbage and this system is working nicely at present. Council is getting organic manure from the wet garbage and selling it.

Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias is also against the Council’s proposal. He told Herald: “I am with the people; if they do not want the proposed garbage centre then the Council cannot impose it on Cuncolkars.”