Deeksha Tar
Dampness of sweat is replaced by moisture. The heated summer has finally been rested by the rain drops adding to respite of all the Goans who were probably eager for the end of harsh summers. Its time of the year to be prepared for sticky, soggy, murky travels as the rain refuses to spare anybody and be dry. Though there is muddled response for the monsoon and its arrival, it’s the season escorted with diseases. Yup!
Illness is quite the phenomena of this season and one needs to be careful and cautious. With the list of health complaints prevailing there seem to be little likelihoods of escape from being infected with sickness. This specially cannot be put down with the number of possibilities we have laid for being unwell.
Mountains of garbage waste spread on vacant land, untreated is not an excuse but a reason to fall sick. Barren land has been turned into dumping ground for depositing untreated waste which contaminates soil, accumulates water, assigning breeding ground for diseases and guarantees sickness to the occupants of the vicinity. It is not about having cleaner and less dirty roads, streets or any public place but where the waste we clean up lands.
With door to door waste collection system in place, with specific days allocated for collection of dry and wet waste, the residents were to an extent glad that their garbage was being taken care of. But little did they know that the collected trash was dumped without being treated on some vacant land be it occupied or not circulating invitation of ailments.
If one does pass by the capital of the state one would get view of the plight I am pointing towards. The barren ground is loaded with peaks of garbage laid bare. The sight itself is quite daunting let aside the consequence it would result in. Why are the authorities not swift with their actions as the consequences could be grave to the residents? This careless approach of turning a large chunk of land into dumping ground raises questions and probable possibility to find an explanation. Panjim is just one example and there are many more dumping areas which needs to be seen into.
With pouring rains, this accumulated waste is base ground for inception of diseases. Stored rain water is breeding ground for mosquitoes which carries plasmodia. Since human body is not able to resist it they may get infected with malaria sooner or later. Unhygienic and filthy land spur infections thus causing damage. Skin rashes, diarrhoea, viral fever are commonly observed in the rains and unclean areas just raises the chances of being infected.
It is just the early days of the rains and the season is yet to complete its term. If appropriate measures are not taken up sooner the consequences might reflect upon the residents in the upcoming days who might be the sufferers for no concrete fault of theirs.
Along with the leftover garbage, the drains are filled with plastic and other waste clogging water flow. The result of water flooding immediately after heavy rain shower was already experienced. To avoid repeat of such an episode in coming days or ever worse scenes immediate clean up and follow up of treating the collected waste is needed. Clear up or encourage threats associated with gathered waste.
