Despite crores spent on collection, garbage finds it way along Margao roads, rail tracks

MARGAO
When the Margao Municipal Council spends over Rs 6 crore annually on door-to-door garbage collection in the commercial capital, Madgavkars may want to know how come waste continues to find its way along the roadside and railway tracks in the city.

Reason: Garbage is found strewn at road junctions, near flyovers, besides the railway tracks, when the agreement inked by the civic body mandates the contractors to lift away waste dumped in the open spaces, popularly known as dark or black spots.

A case in point is the waste piled up along the railway tracks in the Khareband area of the commercial capital. Strange it may seem, but true that garbage dump is taking shape along the railway tracks, not only converting the area into an eyesore but a health hazard for the residents. Locals pointed out that the waste, instead of being segregated and lifted away, will be disposed of by burning, causing pollution in the locality.

The garbage dump has only thrown up a question, how come the waste, in the first place, finds its way near the railway tracks if the workers engaged by the contractor collect the waste door-to-door. Even assuming the residents dump the waste near the tracks or the waste is dumped by unscrupulous miscreants, questions are raised whether it is not the responsibility of the garbage contractor to clear the waste as per the agreement with the MMC.

Questions are asked in the corridors of the civic body and outside whether the MMC has not put in place a mechanism wherein the contractor automatically clears waste dumped along the roadside and railway tracks in their respective jurisdiction.

A resident pointed out that the MMC officials should first conduct a study why waste is finding its way along the railway tracks from the locality when the contractor collects the daily waste door-to-door. “It is indeed strange to know that households dump the waste along the railway tracks when they pay the garbage collection fees to the civic body. Or, it could be a case wherein waste is not collected door-to-door and the waste thereafter finds its way onto the railway tracks,” remarked a resident.

He added: “The MMC officials should visit such areas and carry out a study when waste is still finding its way along the road sides and the railway tracks when the civic body is paying crores of rupees on garbage collection. The officials need to find out whether the garbage dumping is the handiwork of the local residents or contractors from outside the MMC jurisdiction.”