TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Aiming to ensure effective implementation of rural garbage disposal, the State government has decided to provide financial assistance to village panchayats for purchasing bins, tricycles and composting equipment, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha told the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The minister said that the present infrastructure, finances and manpower available with panchayats are insufficient to make necessary arrangements to take care of garbage.
She said that the financial assistance would be provided under Rural Garbage Disposal Scheme as every panchayat is duty-bound to collect and segregate the garbage into wet and dry waste.
“Further the panchayats are required to compost the biodegradable waste at the garbage disposal site and dispose the non-biodegradable waste in consultation with Department of Science and Technology and Goa State Pollution Control Board,” Saldanha said in a written reply.
The minister was replying to the question tabled by former chief minister Digambar Kamat.
Alina said that the decision was taken during the high-level task force meeting held on February 4, 2013. During the meeting, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar directed Directorate of Panchayats to release necessary funds on priority.
As per the minutes of the meeting, the chief minister has directed State Infrastructure Development Corporation, to place transfer stations at locations on the highways where the garbage/waste is thrown by public at large.
“Boards shall be displayed at these points indicating ~Leave your waste here,” he suggested.
During the meeting, Parrikar also directed PWD to identify places where the construction debris can be disposed off.
