CARMONA: The ‘voluntary/self-lockdown’ or ‘total/complete lockdowns’ imposed in some of Salcete’s coastal villages by their respective village panchayats, as a desperate attempt to curb the spiralling daily COVID fatalities and positive cases going beyond control, has now resulted in heaps of garbage being accumulated as either the garbage collection drive is suspended or the workers have left to their native places.
Benaulim villager and social activist Santan Pereira said, “The Benaulim village panchayat has stopped door-to-door collection.”
Former Benaulim sarpanch and social activist architect Royla Fernandes added, “Garbage is piling up. I surely feel that garbage collection is part of disaster management in such a pandemic and definitely COVID positive patients in home isolation should have some facility. Mere lockdown without proper planning is creating a threat to the rest of the family members of patient in home isolation.”
Meanwhile, the Carmona Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge claimed that “the Carmona village panchayat is maintaining weekly collection of garbage as scheduled. All the isolated houses have been advised to keep their garbage at home until the panchayat has arranged for the collection. Staff handling the garbage has been provided all personal protection equipment (PPE) and personal safety kits during sorting and segregation.
