TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Mounds of garbage dumped near Ramnagri colony in Sao Jose de Areal village have come back to haunt local villagers and neighbouring Curtorim.
Sao Jose de Areal Sarpanch Julio Monteiro says the garbage should come as an eye opener to the Town and country Planning Department, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Health Department, who randomly issue NOCs for construction activity against the wishes of the villagers.
“None of the authorities had given a thought to the waste disposal generated in the 250 housing structures in the Ramnagri colony when it was built in the late 80s. Despite the garbage finding its way in the open place and road side, none of the authorities have deemed fit to impose strict conditions on new housing complexes coming up in the village,” Julio said.
Saying that the panchayat is helpless in tackling waste generated from the Ramnagri colony, the sarpanch said that it was better the authorities concerned work out a solution to the garbage menace.
As the waste threatens to spill over to neighbouring Curtorim village, Curtorim deputy Sarpanch J Santano Rodrigues has served a 15-day ultimatum on the authorities to clean up the area or threatened to stage a dharna at the District Collectorate.
“This problem of garbage disposal along the roadside at Ramnagri has been going on for years right at the entrance to Curtorim. Unless the waste is disposed of and the authorities put a stop to the illegal dumping, the waste would spill over to Curtorim village,” Santan said.
He questioned the silence of the health department, police and the PWD in initiating measures against the dumping of waste along the roadside. “Waste dumping at the site gives rise to health hazard, but the health department is sleeping. So are the police, who conduct nakabandis near the site,” he chided.
