Panchayat Minister Rajendra Arlekar was replying to Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho’s query raised during the Question Hour on the management of plastic and garbage. The Congressman pointed out that heaps of garbage strewn on the path leading from the airport, more specifically on the Zuarinagar stretch, has created a nuisance and posed health risk.
Urging to provide a site to dump garbage, Godinho suggested that the government allot a piece of land at Verna Industrial Estate for the purpose. “Why don’t you give 20-22,000 sq mts of land at Verna Industrial Estate? Let garbage of respective panchayats be collected here and treated,” he suggested. The minister reacted to the suggestion positively but stated that it would take the lead only after conducting a feasibility check.
As a short-term measure, Godinho said that garbage of Chicalim and Bogmalo village panchayats could be collected by Mormugao Municipal Council. To this, Arlekar insisted that every village panchayat should set up its units.
“Our garbage menace tackling scheme has been told to set up units, especially in the funnel areas comprising of four panchayats (in Mormugao). We are ready to support the panchayats, and it can identify the sites for us,” he stated.
BJP MLA Dr Pramod Sawant alleged that some municipalities were irresponsibly dumping garbage in villages. Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo also pointed out to a similar situation.
The minister warned the concerned authorities, including village panchayats, to discontinue the practice or face action.
