The Times of India         24.10.2014 

MMC gets stick for poor waste mgmt

Panaji: The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) has pulled up the Mapusa municipal council (MMC) for failure in waste management.

In an order to the MMC on Thursday, GSPCB issued a series of directions urging the council to get its act together. The GSPCB directed the council to start door-to-door collection of segregated waste in all wards of Mapusa, adding that segregation of waste has to be initiated at source. The board said that the segregated non-biodegradable waste may be sent for recycling, whereas, the non-recycled waste may be sent for co-processing in a cement kiln after baling or handed over to the government agency.

The pollution board has also directed the Mapusa municipality to install a baling machine for baling the plastic and to hand it over to government-appointed agencies.

Faulting the council for not keeping proper records, GSPCB directed the council to maintain proper records of the waste collected, waste sent for recycling, biodegradable waste and inert waste. It also directed the council to apply for authorization for the identified landfill facility at Cunchelim.

The council has been told to treat the biodegradable waste at the composting pits in the town and to stop discharge of OWC (organic waste converter) wash water into the 'nullah' and to instead direct it into a soak pit. The board has noted that while the council has seven composting units, only one at the Assagao plateau is operating.

The board directed the council to construct a shed for handling waste at Assagao plateau on priority and to construct a landfill site for dumping of solid waste.

The board has warned that failure to comply with the directions will compel the board to file appropriate proceedings in the courts. GSPCB conducted an inspection of MMC's garbage management facilities in June this year with regards to compliance to a high court directive vide its order dated August 13, 2013.

GSPCB has directed the MMC to start door-to-door collection of segregated waste in all wards of Mapusa, adding that segregation of waste has to be initiated at source.