MARGAO: Former Deputy Chairperson of Margao Municipal Council Doris Texeira is so enchanted with the manner in which Ajmer is handling its garbage that she wants to replicate it in her ward especially as there is no need for high investment.

“They do not have compactors and big garbage management sites like us and yet Ajmer is such a clean city,” she exclaimed pointing out that my adopting tiny measures the corporation has achieved wonders. Although they did not visit any places, the interactions with the municipal chairpersons, chief officers, sanitary inspectors were very enlightening, she said.

“The key is segregation at source and while the wet waste is composted the dry waste is separated and given away to respective agencies,” she said adding that the dry leaves are all dumped in a huge pit that can later be used as compost.

Doris wants to replicate the Ajmer model in her ward and the abutting ward numbers 13 and 16 represented by Ketan Kurtarkar and Manoj Masurkar respectively. “I will get a mini truck to collect the segregated garbage from these three wards,” she said adding that the mini truck will be compartmentalized to carry wet as well as dry garbage.

She said she would first carry out an awareness programme in her ward where she will meet people and educate them on segregation with the help of Sanitary Inspector Viraj. While the awareness programme will be held from December 15, the actual collection of segregated waste will begin from January 1.

It will take me about six months to have the whole system in place but I am determined to start from the New Year and I want people’s co-operation, she said adding that she will individually meet the household members to get their support and cooperation. Doris also felt the need to publicise cleanliness in a big way in Margao. In Ajmer there is so much of publicity on Swach Bhaarat which is totally lacking in Margao and we need to do more publicity to this programme, she added.