---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa: * Oct 11: Konkani translation of Satre book, Alliance Francaise * Oct 11: Friday Balcao, Mapusa. Mental health, suicides 4pm * Oct 12: History Reading (Farar Far by Dr Pratima Kamat, Fundacao 5pm * Oct 12: Goa Orchestra performs at the Kala (Corelli, Bach) * Oct 15: Magic in town... Illusion India show, Panjim then Vasco * Oct 16-17: Ornithology workshop, Bondla southernbirdwing.com ----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ Calangute-Candolim belt grapples with garbage disposal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From Our Mapusa Bureau While we heartily pat ourselves on the back for the half-day office cleanliness drive on Gandhi Jayanti, lacking similar government patronage, the tourism belt along Calangute-Candolim, now grapples hopelessly with a much serious problem; garbage disposal.Our rhetoric on tourism promotion has been pompous and profuse, but four days after Saligao residents blocked access to the garbage dump on the hill opposite the seminary, the stink in Calangute and around grew as uncollected heaps of garbage piled up in village corners. It must be stated at the outset the Calangute Panchayat dumps its garbage in land belonging to Calangute Communidade and has been doing so for the last over 10 years. With no other access, the garbage trucks have to pass through land belonging to Saligao Communidade. On September 30, Saligao residents erected concrete posts on the hill road leading to the dump terming it a permanent closure to the garbage problem. Calangute is now saddled with truckloads of garbage and according to sources in the panchayat, the garbage laden, smelly trucks are now parked in an open place near the Baga Box Bridge. Despite the Panchayat's best efforts, garbage collection in the village has gone haywire and scavenging crows, dogs and cattle were seen rummaging through heaps of dirt at some places. There was a noticeable stench near the panchayat building yesterday. Into this paradise of foul sights and smells we expect to welcome our guests, gasp in delight and exclaim that this is what their "Dil Chahata Hai," - the Tourism department's slogan for enticing tourists. The charters are expected soon. Despite the BDO's letter directing police to give the garbage trucks protection to the site, Calangute panchayat members have been trying to sort out the problem by discussions with Saligao residents. But two meetings scheduled yesterday and today at the Calangute police station never happened at Saligao residents failed to show up. The Calangute panchayat members argue that the construction of barricades is without licence from the Saligao panchayat is therefor illegal. Meanwhile, tempers among the common people of Calangute are rising. At least 200 people gathered near the Calangute Panchayat yesterday. Their argument is that if Saligao does not want our trucks to pass through their village, then Calangute should also stop Saligao vehicles to pass through Calangute. There are many Saligao boys who ply their tourist taxis from the many hotels in Calangute and some others have small restaurants and shops. A Saligao resident in the forefront of the anti-dumping campaign emphatically denied that they have a fight with Calangute. In effect, he said that their fight is against the government and the legislators who have no inkling of what the Management of Solid Waste Rules are all about. "There are rules in place so why don't they follow it?" he questioned. The Saligao stand is not entirely without substance. They are looking at the big picture many years hence when their hill which is being targeted to become the garbage dump for entire Bardez could pollute their water table and cause an environmental problem. And even as 35,000 sq mt of land on the Saligao hill is about to be acquired by the government for garbage disposal, Saligao residents are keeping their options, of filing a writ petition with the High Court, open. The stand-off between the two hitherto friendly neighbours continues. But even while differing on the garbage issue, people in both villages are firm in their belief of one thing. Whether in defections, scams or by their sheer inaction in garbage management, it is our politicians who give Goa a bad name. --------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 6/10/02 --------------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy ======================================= ======================================================================== To view GoaNet's archives http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net ======================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Don't want so many e-mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead!
