The state Legislative Assembly has been taking up many important issues these days. Solid waste management is one that has been dogging the state for long. We have laws, but enforcement is poor. As per the decision taken by the government, we need to achieve the goal of Viksit Goa by 2037. We like to use slogans such as ‘Green Goa, Clean Goa’, knowing very well that these are more on paper. Regarding ‘Clean Goa’, initiatives have been taken since 2013, but we have failed to keep pace with time.
On Monday, the Assembly passed a bill amending the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, empowering the government to impose fines ranging from the present Rs 200 to Rs 3 lakh for littering in public or private spaces. The high fine amount is seen as a deterrent against littering. The bill also empowers the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to monitor industrial waste via a website and digital platform and impound vehicles used for illegal dumping. There is a prohibition on throwing waste—biodegradable or non-biodegradable—into drains, rivers, ponds, lakes, and other areas where it could pose a risk to public health, pollute water and soil, block drainage systems, or disrupt sewage treatment.
Some measures had to be taken to deter vehicle owners from using their trucks to dispose of waste illegally. According to the bill, the vehicle used for dumping waste illegally will be impounded, and its licence suspended for a period of one month for the first offence. A fine of Rs 25,000 will also be levied. For the second offence the punishment will be three months’ suspension and a fine of Rs 50,000; for the third it will be six months’ suspension and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Thereafter, the licence will be permanently suspended. It is good that bulk waste generators, waste collectors, recyclers, and co-processors are all required to register on the GSPCB’s online portal.
The amount of garbage generated is only increasing. We have solid waste management plants, and one or two more may be in the pipeline. But the collection and transportation of solid waste need to be improved and handled with professionalism. After ‘study tours’ were sent abroad, we were told that with ‘state-of-the-art’ garbage treatment plants, bad stench would be a thing of the past. The reality, however, is different for the residents of Saligao.
While this amendment will need some time for implementation, the government must simultaneously take more steps to bring cleanliness to public places. Panchayats or municipalities, with some exceptions, have failed us in solid waste management. Civic bodies, however, have their side of the story for not doing their job properly. There is no accountability, and the blame game continues. This doesn’t take us anywhere; instead, the state suffers and earns a bad name. We definitely need high-end tourists, but with garbage dumped at certain spots and not collected for days, what is the message we are sending? Crores of public funds are spent on tourism promotion abroad. Why can’t part of it be utilised to improve the solid waste management system? Also, when will Goa become plastic-free as promised? The Swachh Bharat Mission is a good initiative, and it depends on the respective state government, central and state agencies, and community participation to keep public places clean and maintain a high level of hygiene and sanitation in public utility facilities. The government must be proactive in such matters. Responsible tourism practices also need to be promoted.
Increasing fines for littering is a positive step, but much more needs to be done on the enforcement front. Elected representatives can do it if they have the will.
