In a special drive a team of scientists National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) recently collected more than 1000 kg of plastic waste from within just a one-kilometer stretch of Caranzalem beach. Besides the plastic waste other waste that was collected included large quantity of organic waste, glass bottles, metal cans, etc. the trash was handed over to the Corporation of the City of Panajim (CCP) for scientific disposal. This is a massive quantity of waste collected from a small stretch of the beach and only goes to show that all the instructions/warnings not to litter the beaches is having very little impact. This must also be the case on other beaches in the state which attracts huge crowds.
The government is spending crores of rupees of public money on the beach-cleaning operations. It is said that prevention is better than cure. Drastic situations call for drastic steps. All this money needs to be spent on preventing the littering of the beaches. Several garbage bins should be placed on the beaches for people to throw the trash instead of a few bins placed at isolated places. Hefty fines should be imposed on those found leaving the waste on the beach sand. Warning boards on leaving behind the trash on the beach sand should be displayed at several places. Our beaches should not become one large dumping site for waste. Incidentally the beach cleaning issue has become a war of attrition between two elected representatives.
While the Waste Management minister says it is for it’s ministry to look after the beach cleaning process, the Tourism minister says that it is for his ministry to take up the matter. Obviously there is more than meets the eye. There could be kickbacks involved in granting the contract for beach cleaning. The same is the case with the Sonsoddo garbage dump which has defied a lasting solution for several years and the garbage is mounting with every passing day. The Sonsoddo issue has turned into a new battle ground between the Waste Management minister and the local MLAs of Fatorda and Curtorim consistuencies. There needs to be a political will to solve the garbage issue in the state. Politicians should rise above petty politics and come together to solve the garbage issue in the interest of the state.
The state government has banned the use of single–use plastic in all it’s offices and at meetings and functions from October 2, 2019. A circular issued has reportedly directed all offices to discontinue the use of single-use plastic bottles, glasses, plates, etc. and to use items which are eco-friendly and re-usable to provide water and other items. It must be said that the bouquets that are offered during official functions are also wrapped in plastic. This also needs to be stopped. Styrofoam (thermocol) can be as, if not more, dangerous to the environment than plastic and also take thousands of years to decompose. However there could be some ambiguity on what is considered as single-use plastic.
The Goa government needs to extend the ban to cutlery, decorative items for official functions made from thermocol, including flowers, banners, flags, etc. made from plastic. However what should not be overlooked are plastic garbage bags which also constitute single-use plastic.
