Authorities may be keen to address the issue of garbage collection and disposal in cities and villages, but relying on corroded and broken metal garbage bins to collect waste is hardly a step towards effective garbage management.
Most of the metal garbage bins in Vasco town are corroded and broken, as a result of which garbage spills from the sides and gets scattered around the damaged bin. Dirty water accumulated in the bins has also spread all over the area, giving rise to foul smell in the vicinity and become a breeding ground for flies.
The corroded bins have made it difficult for compactors and labourers to lift the garbage bins and offload the waste into the compactors. Since much of the garbage falls out from the holes in the bins, the labourers have to manually collect and dump the garbage in the compactor.
Residents at Sada, Mangor, Vasco, New Vaddem and Baina have complained that there has been a rapid growth of flies in the area ever since contaminated water has been flowing from the holes in the bins.
They alleged that these flies sit on food and other edible items in the house, thus making the food unsafe for consumption.
When contacted, Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Levinson Martins said the dilapidated garbage bins did not come under their preview, but assured to direct the health officer to look into the matter.
Vasco Health Officer Dr Vikas Kuvelkar told Herald that he would write to the council to take necessary action in this regard.
MMC Chief Officer Y B Tavde admitted that he was aware of the situation. “The MMC was supposed to start door-to-door collection of garbage and the MMC had already placed an order for 50,000 plastic garbage bins. By August 15, the MMC will start door-to-door garbage collection in some wards. I will look into the matter and we will replace some garbage bins that need urgent replacement,” assured Tavde.
