VALPOI: Though the town of Valpoi is being given a new look through the beautification project, most residents feel something concrete has to be done about the Valpoi stream that flows in the backyard of the Valpoi Municipal Council’s office.
The residents pointed that the garbage produced by Valpoi town inadvertently finds its way into this stream causing pollution and irreversible damage to the environment.
They said that everyday the VMC collects nearly 2 tonne of waste, including plastic, from its area and this garbage is dumped in their backyard as there is no garbage treatment plant in Valpoi. A lot of this garbage then gradually moves down into the stream, that later meets the Mhadei river.
This stream is also a source of water for farmers, who use its water for irrigating their fields for the Rabi crop at Massordem.
The sanitary staff said, "We do not have a proper site for dumping garbage and so, left with no choice, we are forced to dump it near the stream."
This act of the VMC has come as a shock to the residents, farmers and environmentalists.
One environmentalist observed that as the officials in the municipality have decided to ignore the laws and regulations on preserving the environment, this has encouraged a few commercial establishments and also residents, to boldly dump their garbage into the stream.
Meanwhile, the site proposed for the setting up of the garbage treatment plant in ward 7 has come in for some stiff opposition from the residents of that ward. However, not withstanding the opposition, the VMC has obtained the green signal from the Collector.
Showing the order from the Collector, an official of VMC said that government land, admeasuring 43,225 sq mt had been transferred to the VMC.
He also disclosed that ` 8,62,500 has been paid in acquiring the land for the project. An official said that the initial stage of infrastructural work would commence soon and that the project would rid Valpoi town of the garbage menace.
Ghantis and other non-Goans no matter how much money or education they have, they are immune to dirty filthy conditions. Why should a beautiful place like Valpoi and other places be subjected to these filthy conditions?
ReplyDeleteThere are many countries uprising against their governments for wrong doing, and gain results. Why are we Goans sitting on our butts and allowing to be swindled and dictated by our Goan Government? Residents of Valpoi do not be fooled by the improvement of the infrastructure vey soon you will notice Mega projects coming in your area.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Colva Beach.The creek is infested with garbage and bacteria.The stink and stench is unbearable.
ReplyDeleteYiu cannot move around the place withou coming across stray and rabid dogs.
I guess Mickky Pacheco and the Local Panchyat are very happy to see all this filth.Matthew Diniz (Pacheco`s side kick and thug) ,who owns Kentuckee Restaurant where shady characters hang-about also couldn`t careless.As long as he makes his money from drugs and prostitution he could not care a damn.
These guys spend crores gambling.Why cant they excercise some good civil and humane services to Colva`s environment and beauty.
I would not say Betalbatim (Pacheco`s backyard) town centre is any better.It is also full of filth,litter and garbage.....like many other village town centres.I sometimes wonder if Mickky Pacheco the MLA was living in the USA blind and got worse when he returned to Goa with bagfuls of un-accounted wealth.
All other MLA`s state in their CV that they have travelled around the world.I wonder, if & when they travelled they stayed in shanty towns.
Many of my friends returning from Goa recently have told me that Goa is not improving but getting worse.
The little development that has taken place is usually of a temporary nature and is a "FIX" used by MLA`s to gather votes.
Goa's every stream, rivers, ponds and lakes have been contaminated by dumping Garbage. Thanks to the Indian occupation the way of life in Goa has turned for the worst. When I was young catching fish in the rivers and ponds were safer with nets and fish were healthier and tastier to eat . Every year before the monsoons rivers and ponds were cleaned in preparation for the following year. Now the dangers are: harm to yourself, nets get ruined and the fish no longer tastes the same. Can Goa ever be cleaned again or are we to die of illnesses related to the Indian way of life? Santa Cruz in Bombay stinks and yet there are posh and rich people living in these areas who are used to the way of life, which is being imported to Goa, While our corrupt government ministers get kickbacks to except the filthy way of life.
ReplyDeleteno doubt. st cruz in mumbai stinks, but the notion that unhygenic conditions are related to indian way of life are unsubstantiated at the best.There is a tendency on this blog to blame everything on politicians and non goans.are there no goans in Valpoi, are there no goans in VMC, why dont we goans hold our own people responsible first and then assign blame to others (if required).
ReplyDeletePrimary problem in Goa is of waste management and not a single college and GU have taken a initiative to tackle this by atleast starting a course.
keeping a place clean begins with you and me. Do the people of Goa atleast segregate their waste to begin with. it does not take hours to do this. Can we who read and write here do this today.Those is the villages can easily dig a pit and dump all your bio waste in there and cover with a layer of mud, add some earth worms and close the pit with tarpaulin (creepy crawlies like these pits, so becarefull).
Romulus::: I disagree with you. I have seen many Goans take care in the disposal of house waste.
ReplyDeleteBio -degradeable waste like food stuffs and vegetable matter, is stored in buckets and is, eiher fed to pigs or given as pigs swill to neighbours who rear pigs.
As for non degradable mater like plastic, this is very often burnt in pits.Glass and metal are stroed and very often sold or exchanged for goods from door to door collectors or rag pickers.
Many people complain about the plastic bags that are littered everywhere.In towns & cities, dwellers have no garbage collection and so dump their waste where ever possible.
This is a major issue.owever instead of tackling such a basic issue or requirement, Dickhead KAmat is more interested ina Golden Jubilee bridge.Churchill to thinks he is doing sterling service for Goa by constructing bridges,that can wait.The Bridges only serve a few people.
I am sure you will agree with me that garbage collection and disposal is a basic amenity and needs to be dealt with, on an emergency basis.If the Goa Government cannot take the lead,what should one expect.
There was a recent Chaka Chak drive to make Goa clean.This was a good start by concerned citizens.However the Goa Government run by filthy money grabbing dogs and pigs did not follow up with any initiative.
It seems the Goa Government is more keen on schemes for their personal grandeur.The common man has to fend for himself.
I can lay a bet with you,that if any Tax money is available,the MLA`s would like to build castles for themselves and their families.
Churchill may stay in his ancestral home.But be sure of one thing , he has accquired more accomodation than he requires.He has a stake in each and every major Building or property development project.These investments extend to Dubai too and perhaps other cities within India and abroad.
There is no doubt in my mind, that if the wealth Churchill and his family have accrued by devious means will fill up 2-3 Football stadiums, wall to wall and end to end , and several feet high,in Rs100 note bundles.Monseratte ,Kamat, Mauvin Godinho,Madikakar,the Ranes and a few others area very close 2nd placed.
Not bad for highly UNEDUCATED Politicians and their henchmen.
They profess to be religious...but rest assured their paramount religious belief,is in making truly shocking amounts of money.All this money actually belongs to Goans.
With all due respect Mr. Fernandes, my comment is based on my experience. Next time you are down in goa, if you drive to panjim from either vasco or margao, you will notice heeps of garbage (the bio degradable one) at many places along the roadside. I agree people in the towns will find it diffcult to do what we can do in the villages. There is a bio-digester at patto, badly managed and too small for even fontainhas, let alone the whole of panjim. The biggest problem with public projects in Goa is that of accountability and quality allied to public attitude that " someone else will take care". It is a pity and shame that a small state like Goa does not have proper waste management facility, no one has any idea of the volume of waste generated in Goa. There was project near Cardiff, Wales, where a power plant has been set up and is fueled by waste from surrounding areas. Although such projects have some environmental liability, the same can be mitigated to a large extent. But our people have cultivated a habit of opposing anything and everything, so I doubt such venture would take hold in goa.
ReplyDeleteChaka Chak drive to make Goa clean, although a noble intiative did not go to the root of the problem. Walking from patto to panjim market you will notice that many people litter the streets (yound and old), and no one cares. Same goes for the rest of Goa. we will keep on having Chaka Chak drives and people will keep on littering, a vicious circle isn't it. Therefore a different practical, workable and near to permanent solution is required.
With regards to Mr.Kamat, my personal opinion is that he is CM for functions and inaugarations only, regarding Mr. Alemao, I have personally witnessed him humiliate officers and engineers who were giving him sound advice. That said, most genuine topics on this blog end up with a mouthfull for the politicians, nothing wrong in people sharing their opinions,but I feel It defeats the purpose of finding solutions when we have assigned the blame on someone and the original topic i.e garbage dumping in this case is almost sidelined.
Hi::: I agree with your assessment. I was refering to Villages and not towns & city.But you are correct.Towns folk, have a great difficulty in disposing waste.It is a little easier but not much better in the villages.But villages too are now becoming dumping grounds.Benaulim seems to suffer from this quite often.Apparently it is from Hotel waste.
ReplyDeleteFruit and Vegetable vendors in Margoa, and I suspect Panjim and other Towns, just dump waste matter anywhere.
It is the duty of Panchayats and Local Councillors to remedy the situation.However I suspect they are not receiving funds or a budget for this from the Government.
Again, I agree with you and I have many times stated that Kamat is seen more often at opening ceremonies than dealing with serious issues.As for Churchill, he is highly uneducated and a great pretender.
As for commenting here, be assured , many MLA`s are aware of what we say.Many are uncomfortable with the comments.Notable are Ravi Naik, Sequeira,Mickky,Babush and Churchill.
Remember there are many Goans that have access to the internet and relay these comments to the MLA`s.
FAcebook is one other method.
The Children of these MLA`s are all on Facebook and other networking sites.So there is an exchange of information and these comments.
It would be interesting to know from other readers / commentators if they feel, that the comments here are reaching Goans and through which medium...word of mouth or internet.