Panjim: A BIN-LESS HORROR

Glenn Costa
glenncosta@herald-goa.com
Garbage, garbage everywhere, but not a bin in sight. Panjim has been bin-less for quite a few years now with the CCP pushing this concept and removing all bins from city limits. The Corporation has been carrying out its door-to-door collection of garbage with its workers collecting garbage from all households. It has also been collecting garbage from all hotels.
However, garbage is still seen in many places all over as lakhs of tourists visit Panjim every year. As they move from place to place given that a large number of them travel as a family unit and consequently carry either mineral water bottles or some foodstuff, they do not have any place to put in their garbage.
“The Chief Minister has promised to make Goa garbage free by December 19, next year. I would request him to make Panjim garbage free before that,” says Savio Gomes, from Miramar. “It’s a Capital City and hundreds of tourists visit it every day. We need to set a good example.”
Most in Panjim feel it is necessary for garbage bins to be installed. Another issue is as new residential and commercial complexes that have sprung up in the last few years and more are under construction, people dump garbage outside – including garbage from shops. However, as the city fathers feel that they should not hurt the feelings of their voters, they do not pull them up and as the garbage pickers refuse to pick up this garbage, it remains.
“Garbage has been a nuisance in the city and the authorities are turning a blind eye. MLA Manohar Parrikar needs to be more serious on the problem,” says Trupti Parab, aptly summing up the issue.