ABEL BARRETTO
CANACONA: With the local administration banning entry of public in most of the exotic waterfalls in Canacona, picnickers have discovered lesser known streams.
However, it has been observed that after they leave these places, they carelessly throw the trash behind, thereby polluting otherwise serene countryside.
This attitude has been criticised by environmentalists’ picnickers, who point out that the scattered garbage is then consumed by animals that scavenge on the leftovers and accidentally ingest polythene bags and paper.
Demanding that the littering of water bodies and other public places in Canacona is stopped, Jack Fernandes, the president of the Canacona-based NGO Goenkar, said they are pained to find the tranquil atmosphere tarnished by the picnickers in the upstreams of Talpona, Galgibaga and Saleri rivers.
“The picnickers are responsible for leaving their waste which includes empty brewery bottles, wrappers, plastic water bottles, plastic plates and bags and what not, this pollutes the otherwise blissful environment, is it so impossible to bring it back and discard productively?” Fernandes questioned.
Vikas Bhagat, Goenkar General Secretary, advised the picnickers to start owning responsibility and cease leaving the rubbish generated by them during their time out.
“Till now we have cleared roadsides, markets and beaches of the filth. It is now a new and immense challenge to free hills and rivers and streams from garbage,” Bhagat added.
“Our earlier awareness programmes on effective disposal of household garbage have yielded fruits. Now we have to include ‘consequences of leaving behind garbage on hills and river streams” said John Coutinho, another Goenkar member.
He warned that if this doesn’t stop, future generations will be left with an inhabitable planet.
