PANJIM: The Manohar Parrikar-led Cabinet has decided to transfer all waste management tasks from various agencies to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).
“There were certain works which are already being operated by various other agencies. The Cabinet has decided to transfer all waste management projects to GWMC. Entire management of all types of waste, which includes 10-12 different types such as e-waste, biomedical, hazardous, plastic and municipal wastes, will now be handled by the single agency. Whatever works are with other department/agencies will be transferred lock, stock and barrel to the Corporation,” the Chief Minister said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
GSMW will soon enter into an amendment contract with the agencies concerned over this new decision.
Parrikar clarified that local waste collection has to be carried out by the respective panchayats and municipal bodies. “We will assist them to do that,” he said as he disclosed that the Department of Panchayats has in-principle approved increasing funds to panchayats from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 9 lakh.
He added, “The funds will be increased depending where the panchayats are located like close to five major cities, next to the airport, coastal and the tourism belt. These panchayats will get Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh more for treating the waste in their areas.”
Last December the State government had constituted the GWMC Board after the Bill for formation of the Corporation was passed in the then monsoon session of Goa Legislative Assembly.
In its first meeting held in April 2017, GSMC set a target of making Goa garbage-free by 2020. The meeting chaired by Parrikar as its chairman, had also stated the first step would be to ban the use of plastic bags below thickness of 40 microns.
