Garbage collection
The major problem with the existing system is that at the end of all the processes, unsegregated garbage reaches the treatment plant. The residents are advised to segregate their dry and wet waste and hand it over to the workers collecting the garbage. However, from there till the point of its transport to the treatment site, all the garbage is mixed together and the aim of the door-to-door garbage collection, which was segregation at source, is lost. Segregation at source is the key to the optimal functioning of the garbage treatment plant.
Bin distribution
While orders for 40,000 bins had been placed, MMC sources pointed that 85 per cent of the population have received bins. However, there is a major chunk of the population in Fatorda that has not received the bins. The municipality was to distribute two bins to each household, one for dry waste and one for wet waste. What happens now as a result is that the residents are forced to empty their garbage into two plastic bags and hand it over to the workers who collect the garbage.
Hotel and restaurant garbage
Towards the end of 2014, the council succeeded in prevailing upon the owners of hotels and restaurants to pay for waste collection. After much discussion, it was decided that the hotel and restaurant owners would clear their arrears as per the old rates up to August 2014 via installments by December 2014. It was also agreed that the new rates shall be applicable with effect from September 2014 and that the MMC shall collect the fees on a monthly basis. It was also agreed that hotel owners will make the provision for their own bins. The bone of contention between the MMC and the hotel and restaurant owners was the classification of hotels and restaurants based on the size of the establishments. Despite promises, there have been complaints over the non-successful implementation of the collection drive owing to issues with the management of workers. The restaurant owners had earlier requested that the waste be collected on a daily basis and the waste should not be allowed to lie at the hotel premises overnight. The restaurant and hotel owners had also expressed reservation that they roadside eateries be charged for waste collection.
Proposed garbage collection fees
Aimed at recovering revenue to pay the workers, the Margao Municipal Council had proposed to charge commercial establishments, government offices, hospitals, halls hosting parties and even stadiums based in Margao municipal jurisdiction garbage collection fees. MMC had carried out a survey of commercial establishments and government offices when the officials came across several shops and private offices not registered with the MMC. The proposed monthly fee was Rs 100 from government offices, large halls hosting parties would be charged Rs 20,000 per month while small ones would be charged Rs 10,000 per month, stadiums would be charged Rs 6,000 per month, cinema halls Rs 3,000, hotels and restaurants Rs 4,500, banks Rs 1,500, canteens in government establishments like Ravindra Bhavan, KTC and police station Rs 750 per month while roadside eateries would be charged Rs 900 per month.
