PANJIM PLUS ON GOA'S CAPITAL'S GARBAGE MESS [EDITORIAL] Isn't it ironical that our beloved Panjim, which only two years ago boasted being the first bin-free city in the country, is sadly finding itself being 'garbage-filled', even as the city fathers struggle to find a waste disposal site?
In an interview to Panjim Plus, in May 2003, CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues exuded confidence when he spoke of making ours "the cleanest city of India". And, he spared no efforts to ensure that. But imagine the rude shock ('stink' is more like it) Panjimites woke up to, to find their city turned overnight into a garbage dump! In one stroke our lofty dreams and grand vision was reduced to rubble. Are we so short-sighted that we can't plan beyond the bin? Or are we contented with a mere cosmetic finish? An adequate waste disposal site (instead of our neighbour's backyard) ought to have been the natural corollary to the bin. No rocket science involved. Can we at least learn from this experience, taking citizens into confidence, and plan a decade or two ahead, rather than merely react to emergencies? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HOT SPOT: GARBAGE-BOMB: ABOUT TO EXPLODE? [BY BARRY CARDOZO] Garbage is a misplaced resource, which today, is a topic of grave concern to our society. However, instead of addressing the threat posed by garbage in a holistic manner, our city fathers have evolved short time quick solutions involving the services of the Panjim Municipal Council to solve the complex problems of garbage disposal." These observations made by Dr. Joe D’Souza in 2003, remain almost the same today. In fact, the situation has worsened to the extent that for over a week garbage was left uncollected in the capital due to unavailability of a dump site. Panjim was literally stinking with garbage strewn in every corner. There was a fear of an outbreak of epidemic in Panjim and surrounding areas. The fear has not yet subsided as the CCP has found a 'temporary cure' that in reality is worse than the disease itself. It has started dumping garbage in the mangrove area behind the bus stand which can lead to water borne and fish diseases that could infect humans very badly too. That is the state of the Capital today. But in the first place why is Panjim in this mess, who is responsible for it, what are the possible remedies and how can we citizens become part of the solution? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "There is a need for ethical and attitude change in the general public towards the disposal of garbage. It is not only the authorities but the general public to be blamed for the present situation due to the total apathy shown by the public towards minimising and treating their own garbage in their locality in whatever way possible. Compost bins should be built at the local level and people should be made to segregate biodegradable waste which should be treated in these compost bins. The non biodegradable waste should be collected by the Municipal authorities and disposed of scientifically. The waste which can be recycled should be done so. There is a little civic sense among the general public, first of all a civic sense should be inculcated in the general public. They should be made to discharge their civic responsibilities in whatever way possible. Rag pickers should be organised to segregate and pick garbage with uniform and incentives being given to them. However, segregation should in fact start at each one’s home. Garbage in reality is that which cannot be used again and not the waste that can be recycled or the biodegradable waste that can be turned into wealth." Dr Nandakumar Kamat. Professor of Botany, Goa University. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The government is least interested in solving the garbage problem. This (statement) is justified from the fact that I have been writing on this issue right from 1992 but no serious efforts have been made by the authorities to take care of this sensitive issue. The authorities have very little vision and have only given cosmetic facelifts to Panjim city. Experiments were done in the Goa University and in 1992 the Goa University’s Microbiology Department had given a report to PMC to evolve a system using microorganisms to degrade and convert garbage into compost, which could be used as a fertilizer. But the PMC would never find a tie-up with the University remunerative. Indigenous microorganisms isolated from compost and garbage dumps by Goa University scientists could have been used if the authorities were serious enough in solving the problem. However, now they will try to spend huge amounts of money unnecessarily on experts from other states with intentions best known to them. Pseudoscientists and fly -by-night operators will appear now, while the real and able local scientists will be sidelined. The present temporary solution of dumping garbage in the mangrove area behind the Panjim KTC bus stand is a cure worse than the problem itself. Various water borne diseases and fish diseases will spread to humans in the surrounding areas. The buildings at Patto will be the hot spot of diseases. Wastes like concrete and other rejected material by builders and that by individuals and local shops have been dumped in the same area for 8-10 years now. There may be nothing less than 1000 tonnes of garbage in this area. There is a need for proper scientific disposal of garbage in the state by involving the local experts and scientists first rather than investing huge amounts of money unnecessarily on outstation experts. The government should take care that it does not fall prey to pseudo-scientists or pseudo-experts who will evolve in the present situation when the government is looking out for a solution to the garbage problem." Dr Joe D'Souza, Scientist - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP According to CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, "landfill continues to remain a handicap". But even as the authorities break their heads over a long-term solution to the problem, here’s what you could do from your side.... o Segregate waste as per CCP guidelines into wet and biodegradable or compostable Waste (kitchen waste, vegetable/fruit waste, meat/fish waste, leaves, etc); Dry or non-biodegradable/partly recyclable waste (plastics, glass, tetrapacks, newspaper, periodicals, cardboard, etc), leaf or garden waste (branches, twigs, grass clippings, weeds, etc); construction debris and large bulky items (furniture, mattresses, tyres, appliances, etc) o You could also follow the simple (but forgotten) technique of burying the organic house waste in a pit, and it will compost slowly over several months into good manure. o Alternatively, you can also convert your house wastes into good compost more rapidly by using either EM (Effective Microorganisms, an organic liquid) or friendly earthworms! Vermicomposting is the art of using earthworms to turn organic wastes into good and useful fertiliser for plants, crops and lawns. It can also be run as a smallscale industry and bring handsome returns to the owner of the vermi-unit. This can be undertaken both by individual residences and at the residential colony-level. For details, contact Green Goa Works, Socolwaddo, Assagao, Bardez, Goa. Tel: 3122609. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ================================================================ Reproduced on Goanet courtesy Panjim Plus [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone 2464687 or 9422058131. Contact Ilidio de Noronha