PANAJI: The Directorate of Panchayats (DoP) is planning to adopt a village in each taluka through the block development office for a project on garbage disposal. The proposal will be put up for discussion before the BDOs at the next monthly meeting.

The director of Panchayats, Mr Menino D’souza said that the directorate has been trying to mobilise the panchayats for proper disposal of garbage but the response from them has not been good enough. He said that the directorate had even prepared a model of composting pit and had made arrangements for imparting training to the panchayats that come forward; however, there has been a lukewarm response to this.
The directorate now proposes to adopt a village in each taluka, which is easily accessible for the BDOs, to take up composting of degradable garbage as a pilot project so as to show other villages how the garbage problem can be solved. He said that this proposal will be put up at the next meeting with the BDOs where a decision will be taken on whether to go ahead with the project.
Mr D’souza said that there is no shortage of funds with the directorate and that the panchayats should come forward.
He said there are various schemes under the Rural Garbage Disposal Scheme – 2005 such as acquisition of land for garbage, setting up of garbage treatment plant, construction of wall, composting pits, etc. He further said land of up to 3,000 sq mt can be acquired under the scheme and the panchayat has to identify the site and place a proposal before the Directorate of Panchayats. He, however, said only 15 panchayats have so far availed benefits of the scheme.
Interestingly, coastal village panchayats have been pulled up by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court for not addressing the garbage issue. It is learnt that many panchayats claim that they have no space in their respective villages or are facing opposition in setting up of garbage treatment plants. “It’s not that everybody will object, it’s just a handful. Hence the panchayats need to re-assure the villagers that the garbage will not be left open and will be treated,” said Mr D’souza.