MARGAO: Fearing a health hazard from the large amount of mixed garbage accumulated in the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) shed barely 100 mts from the Raia Panchayat office, villagers have demanded that the local body immediately begin managing its garbage issues by making the MRF operational. The citizens also alleged that the panchayat leaders had submitted false affidavits to the court, stating that the MRF was operational, in order to get the HC’s stay on the issue of construction licences in the village, vacated.
Panchayat secretary Akshata Zore and Sarpanch Judas Quadros denied the allegations and explained that the waste disposal contract given to private contractor Clinton Vaz only recently expired, and that the local body was temporarily handling waste collection themselves, until they choose a new agency to manage their garbage.
“The dumped garbage will be removed from the shed within the next few days,” said Quadros.
Anthony Barbosa, a local, along with Perry Fernandes and a few other citizens led mediapersons to inspect the state of the MRF that was inaugurated in June this year, which is in the vicinity of two schools, a playground and a church. “The condition of this shed is shocking, and it is apparent that the garbage has not been collected for a very long time. Even the entrance gate is blocked by piles of mixed garbage,” said Barbosa, questioning the panchayat’s choice in garbage handling services.
