Panchayat blames it on fund crunch
VIBHA VERMA
ANJUNA: The garbage menace at Anjuna beach is a little less alarming than Baga and Calangute. Nonetheless one can see waste strewn all along the seashore and its surroundings. Though authorities talk about development and tourism proposals that are in the pipeline, they have miserably failed on the garbage front and the state of our beaches is a testimony to that.
In the last two weeks Herald found heaps of un-segregated garbage which has become an eyesore for the residents and visitors to the Baga and Calangute beaches.
Anjuna beach too suffers the same fate although on a lesser scale. But still one could see huge plastic bags containing all types of garbage dumped at various spots along the beach side, and in the bushes. The shoulder of the road towards the Wednesday flea market is also strewn with junk. Aluminum cans, plastic bottles, rubber tyres, glass pieces and other assorted types of waste are also thrown all over the place.
Anjuna Village Panchayat claims that they are trying to tackle the menace, but their efforts are hampered due to lack of funds.
The panchayat has alleged that funds under the central scheme Nirmal Abhiyan, are stuck in red tape. Deputy Sarpanch Patrick Savio told this reporter that their follow up with the authorities over the release of funds, has been in vain.
“We are supposed to get Rs 35 lakh to procure a segregating machine under the scheme. But, even after one and half years, funds have not reached our coffers. They are still lying with the Goa government,” he alleged.
While this is just one glitch, locals equally share the blame for not taking responsibility. “Locals are not interested to solve
the problem. We are doing whatever in our limited budget and capacity,” Savio explained.
While plastic waste is collected through door-to-door collection on daily basis, the problem lies with wet garbage strewn all over.
“Plastic waste is collected but what about wet waste? It is all over the beach and by the roadsides. Lack of garbage bins contributes to the problem as this prompts people to litter the place,” local resident Ankit Sardesai argued.
“We are more worried now, because during the monsoon, the waste will rot. This can result in a health hazard. I believe if the government is delaying the process of beach cleaning, we as citizens can come together and help the local agencies ensure cleanliness,” local entrepreneur Dominic D’Souza said.
The streams, also a part of the ecology have become dumping grounds for all domestic and industrial refuse. Trash in the bushes and hoteliers releasing waste in the waters is the final blow to ecology. The deputy sarpanch argues that if the segregation machine was purchased, the wet garbage would not be a nuisance as it converts the waste into manure for soil.
“We understand that locals and tourists dump waste in the open because there are no bins, but hotels also carelessly release their waste,” former Deputy Sarpanch Maria Fernandes pointed out.
The Anjuna village with 4000-odd houses has been witnessing objections to every site that is being finalized as dumping-cum-treatment plant. The locals allege that anti-social elements deliberately oppose any site finalized for the project, which has been further delaying solution to the problem.
Like Calangute, now Anjuna also plans to insist that residents and commercial businesses they segregate their waste in two separate bins for dry and wet waste.
