TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The two-pronged Corporation of City of Panaji strategy for keeping the ongoing International Film Festival of India venues clean seemed to have worked, with day two of the festival sporting relatively clean festival venues.
The Corporation has roped-in services of around 25-30 youth volunteers to maintain a watch on people and blow their whistles to deter them from littering. The other strategy was to fine those who litter. Around three delegates have been fined on the first day of the film festival itself.
Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues told Herald that a fining squad under the Collector decides the penalty depending on the seriousness of the offence under Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996.
The two major festival venues ~ the ESG – Marquinez palace-Inox campus, which houses four-multiplex theaters and Kala Academy, saw workers clearing the garbage regularly. However, the coming days will reveal whether the CCP is able to keep up the level of tidiness.
CCP workers have also been deployed along the promenade from Ferry Wharf to Kala Academy, to clear and collect dry as well as wet garbage. CCP vehicles were regularly picking the collected garbage to dump it at a common dumping site.
“Anyone found violating the Act is liable for paying fines ranging between Rs 500 to Rs 5000 or face imprisonment…” Rodrigues said. “Along with the college students, general public have also joined the cleanliness drive.”
