Team Herald
PANJIM: In a first step towards making Goa garbage free by 2020, the recently constituted Goa State Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC) has decided to collect accurate data about garbage generation and segregation across the State.
It has also decided that on a pilot basis, the Corporation will collect, segregate and transport waste from five panchayats along the north Goa coastal belt, showing them the mechanism to be adopted to handle garbage.
“The first task before the corporation would be to compile accurate data about the quantum of garbage generated in the State and how it is segregated. Also we have to see how it is to be transported,” sources said.
The State currently has no accurate data as multiple agencies like Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) (highway garbage), Tourism Department (beach waste), municipalities and panchayats are involved in the work.
“The corporation will first collect data before starting to collect garbage on a pilot basis from few panchayats,” sources said.
GSWMC sources said that henceforth all the issues related to garbage, including its treatment, would be handled by the corporation. “We are working on how to handle and treat different kinds of waste like plastic, food, medical and e-waste and beach cleaning,” sources said.
Emphasis had been laid on commencement of two new Solid Waste Treatment Plants at Cacora and Verna in line with the solid waste plant currently operational at Saligao.
GSWMC is also working on modalities on providing required infrastructure to panchayats like bins, trucks for segregation, collection and transportation of waste.
