------------------------------------------------------------------ Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends.Help others be better informed -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- Shredders to solve plastic issue -------------------------------- The panchayats in the jurisdiction of Canacona taluka will soon be free of plastic waste, informed Mr Arvind Kutkar, Block Development Officer (BDO), Canacona. In a bid to rid their wards of plastic waste, all the seven village panchayats of the taluka will utilise the plastic shredding machine, like the one that has been installed at Shristhal village panchayat recently.
Speaking to 'The Navhind Times', Mr Kutkar said that the plastic shredder is ready for commissioning and will be operational, most likely on October 13. The shredding machine was purchased some six months ago by the previous BDO, Mr Manual Baretto. Mr Kutkar further said that the Directorate of Panchayats had sanctioned one plastic shredding machine for each taluka in the state to wipe out plastic menace. All plastic waste, collected by the panchayats in Canacona, will be transported to the plastic shredder at Shristhal, where the contractor, approved by the department, will dispose the waste, after it is shredded, said Mr Kutkar. He also said that the machine is designed to handle hard plastic including bottles, cups, besides polythene bags. Once the waste is transported to the shredding machine the plastic will be shredded into fine bits after which the government approved agency will use it for different purposes. He also said that the waste can be used to generate fuel and other energy. The shredded plastic can also be blended with bitumen and used to surface roads. Mr Kutkar further disclosed that the plastic can be recycled after shredding. He said that each village panchayat can get a sanction of Rs 25000 towards appointment of labourers for collection of plastic bags and other garbage from places within the panchayats jurisdiction. He said that labourers and rag pickers would be paid Rs100 per day for ten days on daily wage basis. 'All the collected waste will be handed over to the agency for disposal or recycling,' Mr Khutkar added. The BDO also pointed out that those panchayats that have compactors would get Rs 50000 that would be used to supply fuel to the compactor. Besides, a gang of four labourers would be employed by the panchayat for collection and disposal of plastic waste and garbage at the dumping site. Mr Kutkar further said that once this plastic shredder is installed, then no person should be allowed to dump garbage in the open and the panchayat shall take strict action against such offenders under the provision of the Goa Non-Bio-Degradable Garbage Act 1996, and the Goa Non- Bio-Degradable Garbage Control Rule 1997. The village panchayat shall take immediate steps to make available the required number of bins. These bins must be of two different colours; Green bin for bio-degradable waste, and black non bio-degradable waste.Hospitals, dispensaries, private clinics etc, will have a red coloured bin for bio-medical /clinical waste, Mr Kutkar added. As far as possible all households, hotels, housing societies etc. must be encouraged to have their own garbage disposal systems, however, if any of them require the assistance of the panchayats, for disposal of their garbage, such agencies should be registered by the panchayats and immediately be provided with a set of colored bins, added Mr Kutkar. -------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 13/10/08 page 5 -------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------