Garbage dumped indiscriminately at Lokotsav venue covered up before CCP could reach for site inspection

Team Herald

PANJIM: Garbage dumped indiscriminately in the illegally dug up pits close to the river front at Lokotsav festival venue next to Kala Academy were fully covered with mud on Thursday even before Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) officials could reach the site for inspection. 

One 20 litre tin can and few cartoons were removed but the garbage was not entirely removed from the pits before being covered which were illegally dug up to primarily discharge water from the portable bathrooms. 

No concrete action has been taken against the festival organiser for illegally digging soak pits at the Mandovi river front, as the timely action wasn’t initiated by any of the authorities, including the CCP. 

A senior official at the CCP informed that the civic body has imposed fines on Directorate of Art and Culture for the last three consecutive days of the festival, which concluded on Wednesday, for failing to segregate waste and litter in and around the festival venue. The total fine amount imposed is just Rs 4,500. 

And as the things didn’t improve, the CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate on Thursday directed the municipal Inspectors to visit the site and penalise the vendors/stall operators individually. 

A team of seven municipal inspectors visited the site at 2 pm on Thursday and they found that the illegally dug up pit was covered using mud and mixed waste including plastics and liquor bottles all around the sheds where stalls were set up for the festival. 

But by the time municipal inspectors could reach the site, the vendors/stall operators had already vacated the stalls and left the venue. The inspectors couldn’t impose spot fine on anyone and returned back. 

Health Officer in-charge of Urban Health Centre, Panjim, Dr Sunita Arlekar said that when healthcare workers visited the site on Wednesday, mosquito breeding was not found hence no action was taken against anyone. 

She added that initiating action on littering and garbage mismanagement fall under the domain of the CCP. 

“I am personally monitoring this issue. Lokotsav is my department’s festival and we will ensure that the venue is cleared of garbage. As far as soak pits are concerned all possible scientific measures will be taken to ensure that it doesn’t become a health hazard and the area will be restored,” Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude said. 

CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate said that the City Corporation will “get hold of the culprits” and penalise them.