Authorities explore alternative solutions, trying to identify new landfill site
Waste piled up at one of the black spots in the heart of Mapusa.
MAPUSA
The bustling commercial hub of Mapusa is grappling with an overwhelming waste management crisis.
Heaps of garbage are piling up at various points across the town, creating an eyesore and leaving a bad taste in the mouth.
The problem is not just one of aesthetics but of serious environmental and public health concerns.
For years, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) managed waste disposal by dumping unsegregated garbage at the Assagao plateau, where it was later sorted and transferred to the solid waste management plant in Saligao.
However, in 2022, the High Court, citing environmental damage, ruled against this practice.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) after receiving complaints recently enforced the ban, effectively leaving municipal authorities without a dedicated site for waste disposal.
No space, no solution
With the Assagao plateau no longer an option, MMC has had to make do with a patchwork approach.
The town’s only official waste processing facility, the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Cunchelim, accepts only segregated waste. This means that before any garbage reaches the plant, it needs to be sorted.
But without a designated space for segregation, the authorities have been forced to do this work at various "black spots" across the town. This stopgap solution has created more problems than it has solved.
"The town is choking on its own waste. Every morning, we arrive to find new heaps of garbage at these black spots. Even before we can segregate and send it to the processing plant, more waste is dumped," lamented a municipal worker.
Citizens’ apathy, indifference
While municipal authorities struggle to keep the situation under control, another problem looms large: public apathy.
Despite repeated pleas, residents of Mapusa and surrounding areas continue to dump unsegregated waste at these black spots, often late at night to avoid detection.
"People just don’t care. They throw plastic, food waste, medical waste – everything together. It’s almost impossible for us to sort through it all. And when the garbage isn’t cleared on time, they blame the municipal council,” said another sanitation worker.
Business owners, street vendors and even some households have also been accused of irresponsibly disposing of waste.
Seeking a way out
For the past four days, the crisis has worsened, with uncollected waste forming mountains at various black spots across the town.
The MMC has been working tirelessly to find a long-term solution, but with limited resources and an uncooperative public, progress has been slow.
"We understand the frustration of the people, and we are doing our best," said MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal.
"But waste management is a collective responsibility. If people continue to dump mixed waste indiscriminately, no amount of effort from the municipality alone will be enough," she added.
Authorities are now exploring alternative solutions, including identifying a new landfill site.
However, until a sustainable system is put in place – and until the citizens of Mapusa take responsibility for their own waste – the town’s battle with garbage is far from over.
