MARGAO: Even as the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, prohibits the disposal of garbage in public places, drains and sewage, the public places in Salcete have been favourite dumping grounds for waste.
Truckloads of mud, stones, and construction debris are dumped all along the highway at Rawanfond, besides the main road proceeding from Margao Housing Board to Ramnagri as well as Nuvem.
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Initially, the authorities had cleaned up the mess in public places but of late they have preferred to turn Nelson’s eye to the illegalities as people, shopkeepers, street vendors and others continue to dump garbage on the streets.
A prominent citizen, Ulhas Kerkar said “The sight is an eyesore at Ramnagri and stench from the waste is unbearable as it contains toxic gases.”
He further lamented, “On one hand we are promoting a cleanliness campaign and on the other, we are destroying natural resources by dumping waste.”
A senior police officer from Salcete stated that 518 cases were booked in the taluka under the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, which prohibits disposal of garbage in public places, drains and sewage and the defaulters were penalised during the last five months.
The highest number of 300 cases were booked by Fatorda police while the Cuncolim police booked 134 cases. The Margao and Maina-Curtorim police booked 49 and 33 cases respectively while only two cases were booked by the Colva police. One senior police officer said, “The legal system requires the solid waste be managed properly and the particular law has set out very clearly the responsibility of every citizen to dispose of their garbage in a proper and lawful manner.”
