PANJIM: The State government on Friday doubled the grants given to village panchayats for effective garbage management.
According to the new circular, the grant of Rs 1 lakh which was given to each panchayat for effective collection, segregation, treatment and disposal of garbage within their jurisdiction has been doubled to Rs 2 lakh per year.
Further, an additional Rs 7 lakh will be given to panchayats within 12 kms of the airport area, while panchayats in the coastal belt will receive an additional Rs 5 lakh. Panchayats close to municipalities will get an additional Rs 5 lakh, while those that have a weekly village market, as well as panchayats that are financially weak, will be given an additional Rs 3 lakh.
As per the scheme 30 per cent shall be released as the first installment in April/May while the second installment shall be released in September and the remaining by January of the next year. The first installment has already been released to panchayats. The total amount released to all panchayats is Rs 2,94,60,000.
“The objective of the scheme is to empower village panchayats to effectively collect, segregate, treat and dispose of garbage within their jurisdiction,” Directorate of Panchayats said.
The grants can also be utilised for making cages for collection of plastic, purchasing tricycles for collecting garbage, etc. However, the purchase of bailing machines is prohibited under the scheme.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho had informed the House that the government is committed to handling the increasing menace of garbage in the State and that it also intends to increase funds to panchayats for collection of garbage.
