Shocked at Rs 30 lakh monthly spend for waste clearance, locals call for reform in garbage mgmt

Team Herald

MARGAO: A group of concerned citizens in Margao have expressed shock at the government’s expenditure on collection of roadside waste. They have discovered that the government spends a whopping Rs 30 lakh per month on lifting waste from black spots along the roads in the commercial town of Margao. And they are not alone. Every local body across Goa also spends exorbitant amounts on waste collection from public spaces.

Citizens for Margao, led by Convenor Savio Coutinho, have repeatedly suggested a better solution to the Margao Municipal Council and the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA). Instead of spending on workers to collect strewn waste, they propose that local bodies should designate fixed locations within the towns or villages for dropping of waste. They believe that by notifying the public and requesting waste segregation, less than half the number of workers would be required to man these locations, and it would facilitate scientific disposal.

Coutinho believes that the public would prefer to hand over their waste officially rather than dump it stealthily. Unfortunately, the proposal has not been adopted because certain agencies have been appointed to clear the strewn waste, Coutinho added. 

“These agencies have developed a ‘fevicol ka jod, tutega nahi’ mentality,” he remarked sarcastically, which essentially means that their grip on the waste collection industry is too strong to break.

Foolish reasons are often given against the adoption of this system, such as the concern that outside waste will be brought into the cities. However, Coutinho argues that if designated collection spots are notified in panchayat areas, why would people from the villages come with their waste into the cities and towns? He also points out that the city Councils are eventually forced to collect the waste which comes from the village areas, which is ironic.

Citizens for Margao has urged the concerned authorities, including the Chief Minister of Goa and the Chief Secretary of the state, to study and work upon this suggestion if they truly feel that the waste management system should be streamlined. Coutinho lamented that although people in control repeatedly seek suggestions from the public, these suggestions are merely dumped in the waste bin.