PANJIM: Following the Cabinet decision on waste management, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) will soon take over beach cleaning in the State.
On Wednesday, the Manohar Parrikar-led Cabinet had decided to transfer all waste management tasks from various agencies to GWMC.
Although the beach cleaning should have been mandate of GWMC, Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar was adamant that his department will handle the “controversial” beach cleaning.
However, clearing the air, Parrikar on Wednesday had said, “There were certain works which are already being operated by various other agencies. The Cabinet has decided to transfer all waste management projects to GWMC.”
Speaking to Herald, GWMC Director Michael Lobo cleared the confusion saying beach cleaning will soon be handled by the corporation but in consultation with Tourism Department. He said there is no permanent contract awarded to any agency and soon they will start the process of appointing a contractor.
“Right now there is actually no beach cleaning, whatever is being done is just for the sake of it,” he said. He added that the beaches in Goa are a subject of Tourism Department and hence it is necessary for them to be part of any development or any work on beaches.
“GWMC will handle the garbage be it from highways, municipal areas or panchayats. Our job is to assist the municipalities and panchayats,” he said.
Asked whether the issue with Tourism Department had been sorted, he said, “Tourism Department’s job is to bring tourists in Goa, create infrastructure, maintenance of beaches. Beach cleaning is the subject of Waste Management Corporation. We have the manpower machinery etc to do the job.”
On his plans for beach cleaning, he said, “We will take the required staff to do practical work on beach like collection, segregation and lifting.”
GWMC will soon initiate an amendment contract with the agencies concerned over this new decision.
