Despite the state-of-the-art Saligao garbage treatment plant, built at a cost of Rs 146 crore, panchayats across North Goa are facing the heat in terms of garbage collection, segregation and transportation.
Garbage is a very crucial issue which the state is fighting to resolve for more than a decade after spending crores of rupees annually. A separate provision in the budget has also been made by the government to the local bodes to tackle the garbage issue independently.
Despite the High Court order, many of the village panchayats have failed to adhere to the order leading to a hazard in the village. The majority of the villages, which are affected due to the garbage collections and its disposal, are in the tourism belt of both the districts.
Herald spoke to various panchayats in the state, and it was revealed that most of them had problems in terms of garbage collection, transportation, segregation and its disposal.
“Garbage segregation is a huge problem in Dhargalim village as the panchayat, even after educating the people to put dry and wet waste into separate bins, the procedure is not correctly followed. Since they mix both in one bin it becomes very difficult for the panchayat to segregate the same,” said V.P. Secretary, Dhiraj Govekar.
It was also revealed that there are only a few bins in villages for garbage and arrangements for collection of garbage were also quite inadequate.
Speaking to Herald, Nerul, V.P Secretary, Premanand Mandrekar said, “The panchayat is facing a huge problem in transporting garbage to the waste treatment plant at Saligao due to the lack of transport. We have to hire vehicles in order to transport garbage. Earlier we had proposed to the government the need for transport vehicles but nothing was done”
However, people from Nerul village felt that the Panchayat members should have a meeting with the villagers about the garbage disposal problem so that they can work out a system of collection of the plastic garbage which otherwise cannot be disposed off easily.
Another difficulty faced by the panchayats in collection of garbage is the lack of funds as there is no support from the government. The panchayats are just paid Rs 1 lakh for the entire year.
“Lack of funds is the common excuse given by panchayats. This matter needs to be looked into by the Directorate of Panchayats and the Government. There is a need to dispose the garbage so that the surroundings are clean,” said a resident of Chimbel, who did not want to reveal his identity.
Though the Saligao Solid Waste Treatment Plant has provided some relief to the nearby panchayats, sources say that the local body should have its own independent site for collection and segregation of garbage.
Meanwhile, Social Activist, Patricia Pinto says, “According to me there should be no problem of transporting garbage to the solid waste management plant. All that the panchayat needs to do is to give a call to the waste management cell which takes care of the rest.
“I guess some of the panchayats are not aware of this and this creates the problem. In my opinion there should also be a small segregation unit in each village so that it becomes easier for the panchayat.”
