TEAM HERALD
VASCO: There is a ban on plastic in the Sancoale panchayat’s jurisdiction. The state administration had even assured that Sancoale would be made garbage-free as part of a plan to convert it into a ‘model village’. However, the opposite is happening. Garbage can be seen all over the village.
According to information, the panchayat is struggling to identify a dumping site for a long time. After the state administration turned a deaf ear to its pleas, the panchayat stopped collecting garbage a few months ago.
“We are helpless; we have no dumping site. We wrote to the Goa Industrial Development Authority requesting them to give some land in the industrial estate, but the request is pending. Also, the MLA is not helping us resolve the issue,” said Sancoale Sarpanch Sharan Meti.
“While Meti’s appeal awaits attention of the state Administration, the villagers fear that the increasing garbage menace and the fast-approaching monsoon will cause undue hardships. The spreading of epidemics cannot be ruled out,” complained Sancoale resident Vallabhbhai Patel.
He added, “Tons of garbage is seen dumped at all nooks and corners. The situation is worse on the national highway, but who cares?”
The National Highway 17-B passes through Sancoale. A large number of VIPs as well as other tourists and locals use it, but the authorities do not make any effort to spare the State some embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha countered the allegations of Meti saying, “It’s not the sole duty of the MLA to clean the garbage. From the ministry side we are ready to give help, but lifting has to be done by the respective panchayat.”
