The Saptah fair, which was initially for seven days and later extended by two days, have left piles of garbage all along the Padre Jose Vaz road and Swantantra Path road.
On Tuesday morning, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) engaged five trucks to clear the garbage left behind by the hawkers during the Saptah fair.
Speaking to Herald, MMC labourers informed that during the last nine days, they have lifted about 10 truckloads of garbage from the Saptah fair and on Tuesday, they made additional trips to collect garbage full of plastic and other waste.
Some residents and businessmen around the temple area complained that the entire area near Lord Damodar Temple has been stinking of garbage and human excreta.
When asked to comment on the tonnes of plastic garbage left behind by the hawkers of Saptah fair, Vasco MLA and KTC Chairman Carlos Almeida said: “I am trying to make Vasco the first city in the State to be plastic-free.”
Blaming MMC Chief Officer Meghnath Porob for the plastic garbage left behind by the hawkers, Almeida added: “Every year the council decides to impose fine on the hawkers, but at the end of the day, the council conveniently forgets about the fine, due to which the hawkers take it lightly,” he said. “If MMC strictly takes action against all the hawkers for littering the streets with plastic garbage, then the hawkers will think twice before disposing the garbage along the roadside at the end of the Saptah fair,” he added. When contacted, CO Porob said the council is charging fees from the hawkers to collect their garbage.
