Panaji: The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has initiated steps to prepare a solid waste management policy for the state and to draw up a plan for managing and handling garbage scientifically with a long-term perspective.
Recently, the corporation invited expression of interest from agencies for consultancy services to provide inputs and data for the policy. The government plans to study various aspects of garbage management, the state's requirements for all types of equipment, facilities, awareness and other issues.
"The objective is to prepare a long-term policy. A survey from the village to civic body level about the quantum of waste generated will help us understand the issues in drafting and carrying forward a plan for handling and treating all waste scientifically," sources at the secretariat said.
The policy seeks to ensure that investment for garbage management infrastructure is prudently spent. "Often, waste converters or other machineries set up for treatment are shut down, resulting in huge losses," a corporation official said.
Goa has come a long way since passing the Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage Control Act, 1996, with several subsequent amendments made to strengthen it. Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) was one of the few who pioneered waste segregation initiatives in the state, but municipal councils and panchayats have largely failed to replicate workable models in their areas.
The legislation extends powers to local self governing bodies to impose fines on defaulters (littering and dumping of garbage). But implementation has been a sore point as the government and agencies lack political will in penalizing offenders.
"Many of them (panchayats and municipal councils) have moved ahead, but some are lagging," managing director of the corporation, Sanjit Rodrigues said.
Many activists and garbage managers blame the government for not motivating its own departments to implement the cleanliness regimen. The dumping of transport department records along Old Goa highway exposed the insensitivity of government establishments in garbage issues. "In certain government establishments, the awareness and compliance is poor," an official said.
The setting up of a special cell or mechanism to ensure compliance is needed to make garbage management successful K D Sadhale of Nirmal Vishwa, a Ponda-based NGO said. "This way departments and panchayats could be made more accountable," he added.
Recently, the corporation invited expression of interest from agencies for consultancy services to provide inputs and data for the policy. The government plans to study various aspects of garbage management, the state's requirements for all types of equipment, facilities, awareness and other issues.
"The objective is to prepare a long-term policy. A survey from the village to civic body level about the quantum of waste generated will help us understand the issues in drafting and carrying forward a plan for handling and treating all waste scientifically," sources at the secretariat said.
The policy seeks to ensure that investment for garbage management infrastructure is prudently spent. "Often, waste converters or other machineries set up for treatment are shut down, resulting in huge losses," a corporation official said.
Goa has come a long way since passing the Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage Control Act, 1996, with several subsequent amendments made to strengthen it. Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) was one of the few who pioneered waste segregation initiatives in the state, but municipal councils and panchayats have largely failed to replicate workable models in their areas.
The legislation extends powers to local self governing bodies to impose fines on defaulters (littering and dumping of garbage). But implementation has been a sore point as the government and agencies lack political will in penalizing offenders.
"Many of them (panchayats and municipal councils) have moved ahead, but some are lagging," managing director of the corporation, Sanjit Rodrigues said.
Many activists and garbage managers blame the government for not motivating its own departments to implement the cleanliness regimen. The dumping of transport department records along Old Goa highway exposed the insensitivity of government establishments in garbage issues. "In certain government establishments, the awareness and compliance is poor," an official said.
The setting up of a special cell or mechanism to ensure compliance is needed to make garbage management successful K D Sadhale of Nirmal Vishwa, a Ponda-based NGO said. "This way departments and panchayats could be made more accountable," he added.
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