VRISHANK MAHATME
vrishank@herald-goa.com
Heaps of garbage dumped near the famous Divja Circle in Panjim for the last few months has now become a problem with the recent showers adding to the agony of the commuters. A foul smell has started emanating from the dumping site forcing the commuters to hold their noses.
Regular travellers through the circle have complained that they have to pass through the lane everyday where they find garbage and dirt piled up. The sight itself makes them feel sick, they said.
When Herald Team visited the spot, foul smell greeted them. On close observation it was discovered that huge piles of garbage had been covered with a plastic tarpaulin to stop the rain water seeping through. However, it is learnt that with the first shower itself foul smell had started emanating from the garbage dumping site.
Also it was revealed that some kind of sewage water has also started spilling from the garbage dump site on to the main road thus causing inconvenience to passing commuters. This foul smell also gives the tourists a bad impression as soon as they enter the capital city since the Divja circle acts a main entry to the city.
“I was totally surprised to see the heaps of garbage and the bad smell. Goa is such a beautiful state with maximum of it submerged into greenery. Goa is a high end tourist destination and to see this is disheartening,” said Pramod Saha, a resident of Orissa who is on a four-day visit to Goa.
Experts said garbage pollution is main cause of various bacterial diseases and gastro is one of them. Moreover, typhoid, malaria and various infectious diseases are also caused by it. Mosquitoes and other insects normally breed in places where there are piles of garbage and ultimately the waste spreads various diseases in the area.
A Panjim resident, Mario Fernandes had this to say, “The garbage dumpsite near the Divja Circle is disgusting. The smell is so bad that it gives people a nauseating feeling of throwing up. It is causing a bad impression to people, especially the tourists and now with the rains a foul smell has started emanating from the dumping site. The authorities should take immediate action to prevent diseases.”
Locals have also said that the authorities should clean and dispose the garbage on priority basis and at regular intervals to achieve the target of ‘Clean Goa.’
Meanwhile, speaking to Herald, Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) in-charge waste management, Sachin Ambe, refused to comment on the issue saying that he could not speak.
