TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council’s (PMC) efforts to control flies menace seems to have yielded positive results, as the private pest control firm hired reportedly succeeded in eliminating flies that had spread in the Khandepar region due to the manure kept to dry at PMC’s garbage treatment facility at Keryem.
It may be recalled that PMC’s plan to start garbage treatment facility at the notified site (Keryem) in Curti-Khandepar Panchayat was marred with stiff opposition from villagers after the manure kept to dry attracted flies. Citing health issues, residents including the panchayat opposed the garbage treatment facility. Subsequently, PMC shifted the manure and assured to take necessary measures.
According to information, based on High Court directives, PMC had resumed the work to set up garbage treatment facility at Keryem and erected shed to dry the manure that was generated from organic waste convertors (OWC) which are in operation in the city.
Following the incident, PMC on November 29 launched the drive and according to councillor Venkatesh Naik, flies menace is under control. PMC had hired a private pest control firm for the task and according to information the entire activity would cost PMC about Rs 4.5 lakh.
“We managed to eliminate flies that had reportedly spread in the area due to the manure that was kept to dry at Keryem. Though we managed to clear the area from flies, the area is still being monitored by PMC as well as the personnel from the pest control firm,” informed Naik, who is also the chairman of PMC’s garbage committee.
During a joint meeting of PMC and Curti-Khandepar Panchayat convened by Ponda Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes, it was decided to stop the activity (drying manure) at Keryem for a month till the flies menace is controlled. However the very next day, villagers along with the panchayat members at a meeting decided to oppose PMC’s garbage treatment facility.
