Margao Municipal Council’s garbage management system is perplexing and perhaps the most difficult to understand. The South Goa Planning and Development Authority Ground (SGPDA) hosted Saras 2016 from November 3 to 14, but since the programme ended the SGPDA is a garbage nightmare. It is now nine days since the garbage generated by the Saras programme has been lying on the ground unpicked by MMC.
The SGPDA ground was in the news over its allotment for exhibitions cum sales. A complaint had been filed with some State investigation agencies seeking a probe in the allotment of the ground alleging that it was parking space and could not be allotted for exhibitions or commercial activities. Subsequently, MMC in meeting decided not to allow any sale or commercial activities on this piece of land. Yet, Saras 2016 was organised on this space, and exposed the attitude of SGPDA and MMC to take responsibility for the upkeep of the open space.
It has been over nine days that MMC has failed to clear the garbage scattered all over the piece of land. The council’s labourers work in the early part of the day and are not seen in the second session. People say that the work force is being paid but is being under utilised by MMC, and that the council needs to utilise this work force to clear garbage on the land, as the scattered rubbish leaves tourists with a bad image of Margao town.
MMC Chief Officer Yashwant Tawde, however, said that the municipality was in the process of raising the bill for the removal of garbage and it would be cleared in a day or two.
MMC, which had earlier been complaining that the government failed to give them machinery for garbage collection, was in the month of August handed over seven tipper rickshaws for collection of solid waste. These tippers were provided under the Swacch Bharat Nital Goem Mission to municipal councils. Sadly, these are lying at the Municipal vehicles yard and only one is being used by MMC. Some of the workers of the MMC were seen playing cards behind these vehicles and alerted by our cameras fled the area.
Convenor of the Shadow Council, Savio Coutinho, said, “MMC’s garbage management system will never improve. There is no one to clear this garbage at SGPDA ground but the collection of chicken waste coming from beyond Margao is regular. MMC was given seven rickshaws under the Swacch Bharat and many trolleys for collection of solid waste by GSUDA. Sadly only one rickshaw is being used and none of the trolleys are being used by MMC for collection of waste.”
Clarifying on the tipper rickshaws remaining unutilized, Tawade said, “The eight drivers for the rickshaws have been sent for a RTO test and as soon as the test result is given we will give appointment order to the drivers.”
MMC had also promised of house assessment in its jurisdiction to charge households for waste collection but has has still not initiated any action on this front and the effects of this alleged policy paralysis were felt at the last meeting. Councillor Rupesh Mahatme had flayed the ruling side saying, “Don’t promise announcing of formulating policies for any jobs. You had promised policy for house assessment nearly a year ago and you have not done anything on that front.”
