Garbage trucks of the Mapusa Municipal Council spilling leachate in the heart of the city are becoming a serious hazard for motorists and other road users. On Monday, one such truck was reportedly leaking foul-smelling wastewater as it made its way through a busy city road.
Motorists driving behind had to endure the highly unpleasant — and unhygienic — experience of being splashed with dirty leachate leaking from both sides of the vehicle. Apart from causing extreme discomfort and raising serious health concerns, the spillage left the entire stretch dangerously slippery.
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The stench was unbearable. The road was in a mess, and some people even began vomiting due to the overpowering smell. Shockingly, a civic worker was seen sitting at the back of the truck sorting garbage without gloves or a mask — a clear violation of basic human rights and workplace safety standards.
The municipality must ensure that garbage is transported in a hygienic manner, without inconveniencing the public. Such vehicles should be properly sealed and maintained to prevent leakage.
With garbage strewn across streets, damaged roads, and open gutters, Mapusa increasingly resembles a slum rather than a town. The situation in the city’s busiest market is equally dismal, with trash visible in almost every corner. While the municipality ensures that vendors pay their sopo (fees), it has failed miserably on the cleanliness front.
With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner — and remembering that “cleanliness is next to godliness” — it is high time the civic body spruces up the market and restores a semblance of hygiene ahead of the festive season.
