Team Herald
MARGAO: In a shocking embarrassment to local governance, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), which has repeatedly claimed to have an efficient waste management system, was caught violating its own waste disposal norms, triggering outrage among residents.
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On Wednesday, locals spotted an MMC truck unloading waste in an open space in the Peda-Margao area, an act that not only contradicts the civic body’s stance on waste management but also raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the system. Furious with what they witnessed, residents called for the police to take strict action against the Municipality, including penalties for creating a public nuisance in their locality.
Savio Coutinho, a Margao resident and activist, expressed his frustration with the repeated lapses in Margao’s waste management practices. He emphasised that if individuals and private establishments face fines and penalties for improper waste disposal, the Municipality should also be held accountable.
“This is how the civic body is handling waste within its jurisdiction? It is completely unacceptable to simply shift waste from one site and dump it in another public space,” Coutinho said, pointing out the sheer negligence on the part of the authorities.
He further questioned the use of taxpayer money on what he described as a “failing waste management model.” He noted that this was not an isolated incident, alleging that MMC trucks had been spotted on multiple occasions dumping garbage in open spaces rather than following proper disposal procedures at the Sonsoddo waste treatment facility.
In response to the incident, a group of residents in Peda-Margao took matters into their own hands. They confronted the municipal workers on-site and forced them to reload the waste and clear the area.
Repeated attempts to reach MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar for his comments on the incident were futile, as he remained unavailable.
Meanwhile, another resident, Rupesh Naik, raised concerns over additional waste disposal violations by MMC staff. He claimed that several residents had witnessed municipal workers burning garbage early in the morning, an act that not only creates environmental pollution but also poses a serious health hazard to the community.
“We’ve seen MMC workers setting fire to garbage piles. The smoke from burning waste contains harmful toxins, which can cause respiratory problems and other health issues. This reckless behaviour must stop immediately, and those responsible should be held accountable,” Naik said.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with locals questioning whether the civic body will take responsibility for its mismanagement or if such violations will persist without consequence. Residents are now urging higher authorities to intervene and ensure that waste management regulations are enforced uniformly, regardless of whether the violator is a citizen or the Municipality itself.
