Sets deadline for hotels, restaurants
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council on Friday resolved to act tough against city hotels and restaurants, setting 15-day deadline on establishments to clear the arrears or risk discontinuation of waste collection and temporary suspension of licenses. The civic body has also decided to levy fees on collection of medical waste from the town’s hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.
The issue took centre stage at a special meeting of the council held under the chairmanship of Chairperson Dayanand Deulkar. A visibly agitated Chairperson of the Municipal Sanitation Committee, Pratima Coutinho, made a forceful plea to the council to immediately stop free collection of waste from hotels. She contended that the civic body has not collected a single rupee from hotels and restaurants demanding to know the special treatment given to these establishments.
Outgoing MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva also questioned the municipal sanitation inspector why the civic body is prompt in collecting hotel waste over other waste.
Intervening in the discussions, Chief Officer Deepali Naik said that the rules may not permit immediate discontinuation of hotel waste collection and promised to issue a notice to clear the arrears within 15 days.
The meeting also resolved to revise and implement new hotel waste collection rates. As per the approved rates, hotels and restaurants will be charged Rs 80, Rs 60 and Rs 30 a day for waste collection as per their classification.
The meeting also generated much heat over the proposal to constitute a committee of experts and professionals for signature projects and other infrastructure development for the Margao Municipal Council. The proposal evoked strong opposition from the Arthur group, who claimed that the municipality has a team of engineers capable enough to handle any work. On the other hand councillor Sushila Naik told the Chairperson to go ahead with the expert committee, saying such a committee is necessary to plan developmental projects.
Chairperson Deulkar later told the media that the Councillors have been asked to give their individual opinion on the proposal, promising that the same would be discussed at the next meeting.
The meeting also resolved to float tenders for data collection of houses and business establishments for door-to-door garbage collection.
