CANACONA: Even though the government has appointed a private agency to collect roadside litter, the inorganic waste on both sides of NH66 road stretch passing through Karmalghat near Canacona has increased exponentially in recent months putting the environment around at great stress.
With no authorities around, it is not uncommon to see the commuters taking their hands out of the window from the moving vehicles to throw bottles, wrapping material or any other waste when they pass through the NH66 road passing through forest between Bali and Gulem in Canacona. Many locals with civic sense are heard complaining about the ignorance of such people, which has made the otherwise unique and serene environment an eyesore.
“We get frustrated and depressed at the sight of rubbish, from casual litter to deliberate fly-tipping, it’s time our countrymen have to realise their responsibility that these waste has to go to a proper place and not on the roadsides,” said Jack Fernandes, president of NGO Goenkar voicing his anger.
While littering of the water bodies such as rivers, seas and oceans are now at the forefront of public concern worldwide, general littering of the roadside, countryside and communities is barely on the national radar.
“The amount of ‘eyesore’ litter, not just plastic, is increasing exponentially on the roadsides, in rivers, in public spaces and in the countryside and have a huge negative impact on the lives of people as well as wildlife in the region,” complained Vikas Bhagat, general secretary of Goenkar.
“Research shows that litter affects people’s feelings of wellbeing and safety. Littered streets feel abandoned, consequently their inhabitants do too. Litter ruins people’s enjoyment of the countryside and makes open spaces feel like waste grounds,” expressed Sandesh Teleikar, another office bearer.
“While the authorities have to check for effective removal of roadside waste, the agency which is entrusted with the collection of waste have to increase the manpower as collection of this waste is a labour intensive job,” suggested Teleikar.
Most of the environment conscious locals Herald correspondent spoke with blamed the lack of civic sense and questioned their inability to think that their action pollutes the forest which supports a wide category of flora and fauna.
While the labourers employed remove the waste close to the road there are so many glass bottles, shoes, food containers, polystyrene packaging, polyethylene bottles of all kinds, television sets, personal computers, tube lights, wrapping material, mattresses, pillows found discarded all over the roadside mostly on Karmalghat.
“While Goa depends on the tourists, the roadside garbage menace is driving the tourists out of Goa, just like we keep our surroundings clean it is everyone’s duty to keep our environment around us clean and tidy,” emphasised Jack Fernandes.
“Those who have grown up in disposable society spoil the beautiful roadside for us, unless we focus on behavioral change in the community the roadside litter will never stop,” asserted Vikas Bhagat.
