Team Herald
MARGAO: The Betalbatim village panchayat has imposed a penalty on a hotel for disposing of garbage in an open area and has given the establishment a 10-day deadline to clear the accumulated waste from the site.
Betalbatim Deputy Sarpanch Ilma Dias, along with the Panchayat secretary, led the enforcement drive against the hotel, citing its improper disposal of waste generated on the premises. She pointed out that the garbage was dumped at a location connected to a creek, which eventually feeds into the Arabian Sea.
“We have cracked the whip against the hotel after we have learnt that they have also disposed of some garbage by burning. The waste seemed to have been lying for many months now. It is not just waste disposal, but the pollution it will cause the creek water as well,” she said, while speaking to the media.
She added: “These hotels have been doing business in the village for many years now and are violating the rules of garbage disposal. The hotel was twice warned by the Panchayat. Now, we have to fine them. They have been told to clear the waste within 10 days.”
Dias also acknowledged that local farmers have raised concerns about skin infections, which they believe are linked to the alleged release of sewage and wastewater from hotels into agricultural fields. She emphasized that Betalbatim is grappling with this issue at a time when multiple development projects are being proposed in the area.
“We are trying to resolve the issues at hand, but there are many proposals coming up. We have recently rejected three projects, but what if the promoters go to the higher authorities,” she questioned.