Civic body to reward responsible citizens
IRRESPONSIBLE CITIZENS: Despite the Mapusa civic body’s novel initiative of opening its first Dry Waste Collection Centre at a prime location, irresponsible citizens continue to dump waste beside the facility.
MAPUSA
Faced with mounting garbage at several black spots across town, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to implement a dual strategy – raising awareness and enforcing penalties – to curb the problem.
The civic body has announced plans to educate residents on proper waste disposal practices while rewarding responsible citizens.
Simultaneously, strict fines will be imposed on those caught dumping waste in open areas.
The move comes after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) recently prohibited the MMC from disposing of waste at the Assagao plateau, exacerbating the waste crisis.
With no designated dumping site, municipal workers have been forced to segregate waste at black spots, causing inconvenience to both the workers and residents.
Previously, mixed waste was transported to the Assagao plateau before being separated and sent to the Saligao solid waste treatment plant.
MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal stated that an intensive garbage collection awareness drive would be launched.
The civic body has enlisted the help of Anubhuti Welfare Foundation, an NGO, to educate residents on waste segregation and the adverse effects of illegal dumping.
“We will have teams visiting different areas to inform people about the importance of waste segregation and the consequences of open dumping,” Mishal said.
The municipal council is also considering recognising and rewarding residents who follow proper waste disposal methods to set a positive example for others.
In parallel, authorities will begin imposing fines on those found littering public spaces.
“A task force, including municipal officials, GSPCB representatives, and the police, will be formed to identify and penalise offenders engaged in illegal dumping,” Mishal added.
Despite the MMC’s door-to-door waste collection system, some residents continue to discard waste irresponsibly, leading to the persistence of black spots in the town.
Previous efforts, including beautifying these spots, have failed to deter the practice.
With these new measures, the civic body aims to bring lasting change and ensure a cleaner Mapusa.
