Photo caption -
THE DIRTY PICTURE: Accident vehicles, garbage and kiosks found at the old bus stand give the area a bad look.
Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
Inspection unearths unhygienic state of Margao
old bus stand which doubles up as fast-food hub
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Garbage littered all over the place, accident vehicles dumped around, fast food kiosks stationed on the bus stand, pathetic state of the bus shelter et al.
Indeed, a joint inspection by officials of the Health, Food and Drugs Administration, Margao Municipality and Horticulture, besides the traffic police unearthed unhygienic conditions at the Margao old bus stand, which doubles up as a fast-food hub in the evenings.
Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Succorro Quadros was categorical in saying that health and sanitation need to be improved at the Old bus stand as the area is frequented not just by the commuters, but draws hundreds of customers to the fast-food joints.
Dr Quadros said the Health Department will intervene at the Old Bus stand in a bid to improve the hygiene and sanitation in the area.
“If required, the Health Department will invoke the provisions of the Health Act to bring about an improvement at the bus stand”, Dr Quadros said.
The inspection was called by the Margao Urban Health centre after GOACAN dashed off a letter to the health department citing the report carried by The Goan about the pitiable conditions at the old bus stand, with garbage uncollected for days, making the entire area an eyesore.
“The inspection has revealed there’s been a breakdown of routine checks by the Margao Municipal Council, Health and FDA. We have told these agencies to conduct a drive and compile details of the deficiencies”, GOACAN convenor Roland Martins informed.
He added: "After today’s inspection, we will create a proposal and prepare a road map. This is a prominent area in Margao, but we have come across accident vehicles abandoned at the bus stand. We will recommend to the Collector to consider the old bus stand as a food hub”.
As the inspection team expressed concern over the abandoned vehicles playing host to a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the agencies will also deal with the situation from the dengue and malaria point of view.
The Margao Municipal officials were caught on the wrong foot as garbage was found strewn at the bus stand. That’s not all. The officials had no explanation for the presence of kiosks on the bus stand in the morning when the MMC license mandates them to tow away the gaddas from the bus stand after business hours to facilitate vehicular parking.
After identifying the key issues during the inspections, it has been decided to take action by holding routine inspections of the kiosks selling food. The FDA will issue them improvement notices, while the Urban Health centre will issue sanitary cards to act on the deficiencies.
The accident-related case attached vehicles coming under the jurisdiction of the Maina-Curtorim Police Station and Margao Town Police Station will be listed for their shifting to be arranged.
The garbage and debris presently lying uncleared in different parts of the bus stand will be cleared on priority by the MMC.
The seating area and shed meant for the passengers, drivers and conductors will be improved in consultation with the Directorate of Transport, Traffic Police and the MMC.
The deficiencies with regards to the Public Pay Toilet operated by Sulabh International (SI) will be addressed by the UHC, MMC & SI.
The MMC will identify the owners of the moving carts which are parked at the bus stand and blocking the parking and moving access of vehicles and take steps to move them out.
