NT NETWORK

Margao   

Taking a leaf out of the traffic sentinel scheme, the Margao municipal council on Wednesday launched a scheme to pay Rs 1,000 to the citizens who report illegal dumping of waste through a photograph or video via Whatsapp.

The MMC was compelled to launch the garbage sentinel scheme after the officers observed that there has been a phenomenal rise in garbage  dumping along the roadsides in the city, at waste  transfer stations and  at ‘black spots’.

Giving details of the scheme to media persons in the city, acting MMC chairperson Tito Cardozo said, “This scheme has been formulated to act as a deterrent.  It is open to all. A concerned citizen can take a photograph or film a person dumping waste illegally within the MMC limits.” 

If the violator comes in a vehicle then the person capturing the illegal act in a photograph or video should capture the registration number of the vehicle, which will help the authorities initiate action. The photograph taken or video captured on the illegal garbage dumping should be sent via Whatsapp number 8390208406, he explained. 

“Once we get the evidence we will start the process to slap a fine of Rs 5000 through the police on the garbage thrower. The garbage sentinel will be paid Rs 1000 for the reported case,” Cardozo said.

Citizens of Margao have welcomed the scheme, which is the first of its kind initiative in the state.

MMC chief officer Siddhivinayak Naik, who was also present for the press briefing, said that in case a garbage thrower  challenges  the violation  captured in a photograph or video by the  garbage sentinel then the  court  may  require  the garbage  sentinel to testify  before it  over the  violation.

When media persons pressed for elaboration on legal aspects of the scheme, Naik asserted that the scheme has been launched weighing all legal angles.

He said the council had adopted a resolution to this effect and that   financial provisions have been made before announcing the scheme, adding that the permission from the director of municipal administration will be taken.

“But at present the permission is not required,” he claimed.

Sources in the MMC said that at least 15 cases of illegal waste dumping could be reported everyday in the MMC areas.

It is pertinent to note here that the municipality has been overwhelmed by the garbage menace and has stepped up its efforts on waste segregation.