Herald: What according to you is the problem with garbage in Panjim?
Chodankar: As far as garbage is concerned the main player is the government, whichever government it is. This issue has remained unsolved for many years, but it has to be addressed by the government. We need a single unit – waste management unit – for the State. For example the BMC (Mumbai corporation) is handling this problem with one major unit, even though Goa’s population is negligible compared to Mumbai. Forget about Panjim, I am talking about Goa. What we need is one unit or a maximum of two units for the State and all the garbage could go there.
Herald: Is this the way forward?
Chodankar: What we are doing is temporary. Whatever the place, whether it is in Bainguinim or elsewhere, there has to be a political will. We need the political will and the vision to complete this project. No municipality has a backup plan. When garbage collection is outsourced, if one contractor goes, the second contractor comes in. Compared to other places, here in Goa we are handling garbage in a much better manner. But outsourcing happens all over the country and is followed by the top municipalities. If Panjim garbage is outsourced, the workers should be taken back through the contractors so that their basic livelihood is not affected.
