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------------------------------------------------------------- Introduce environmental studies in schools: HC ------------------------------------------------------------- The Panjim Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the Education Department to make provisions for the teaching of "Environment and Ecology" right from primary to secondary school. The Division Bench comprising Justice F I Rebello and P V Hardas gave this direction in the common order admitting two petitions Claudio Fernandes v/s Margao Municipal Council and Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell v/s the Director of Municipal Administration, both concerned with garbage disposal.
The Bench has expressed an "urgent need" for Environmental and Ecological studies. It directed, "..the Director of Education is directed, in consultation with the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary School Education to provide for teaching of Environment and Ecology as a subject, in the primary, middle and secondary schools which must include the subject as to how the waste at home and public places needs to be disposed off."
In order to create awareness about the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Rules, the court has directed the State to initiate a public awareness campaign, with the help of local bodies, through workshops and seminars.
Goa Doordarshan and All India Radio have been directed to broadcast messages on separation of wastes for six months. The court has also observed that the FM radio, in public interest should also broadcast such messages, which will create awareness.
The Bench directed the Director of Municipal Administration to ensure that all the Municipal Councils in Goa take steps to implement the Municipal Solid waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 within six months of passing the order.
The Court has ordered that the "Recycled Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999" should be strictly enforced and the Plastic Containment Fund be used to implement the provisions, particularly the ban on the use of recycled plastic bags for carrying food articles. It should also be ensured that manufacturers use only bags of required micron thickness.
The state government has been directed to submit a scheme within six months on taxing those marketing and selling plastic bags/bottles and the like. The Court has however clarified that the tax/fee/other charges should be reasonable and not oppressive.
In view of the flourishing tourism industry, the court has recommended that the State consider the setting up of a recycling plant which would be run by it or through a private operator by its own contribution and the revenue derived from the tax imposed on those marketing and selling plastics. This should also be included in the same scheme.
Every Municipal Council has been directed to appoint a MSW officer, specially incharge of garbage management within three months. The Councils are also to conduct continous public awareness programmes on garbage collection for six months commencing December 19, 2003 with the assistance of the NGOs. They have also been directed to set up Garbage Management Committees.
The Court has also directed the Municipal Councils to officially involve rag-picker associations and NGOs in the collection and disposal of non-biodegradable waste.The present system of daily collection of garbage is to continue except in places of larger accumulation, where the councils have to collect twice daily.
The Court has directed that all commercial establishments will have waste bins cleared daily on payment by the shop owners, to be tried initially in the municipal areas of Panjim, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa and Ponda, which is to be implemented before October 30, 2003. A compliance report is to be submitted to the Court within three months thereafter.
In this connection, the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste will be collected in green and black containers respectively. The Court has clarified that "commercial establishment" will include mobile carts and kiosks.
The division bench has directed the Director of Health services to ensure within six months that all those establishments where the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 are applicable are complying with the rules and to file a compliance report on the steps taken to implement the rules. Failure to implement the rules would result in penal action including closure of establishment.
The sites selected for garbage treatment have to be approved by the State Pollution Control Board and the Operator. For approval by the State Pollution Control Board, the same has to be discussed with the stake holders/community where it is located and steps of monitoring of water supplies, consultation of civic bodies,signing of operator agreement and installation of a plant for separation and composting of wastes have to be taken.
The Court has also directed the Margao Municipal Council to implement the provisions under schedule II at the Sonsoddo site pending the setting up of the two waste treatment plants. Once the waste treatment plant for south Goa district is in place, the council will stop using the Sonsoddo dump for dumping municipal waste.
The division bench has allowed the Calangute panchayat to continue dumping garbage at the Saligao plateau provided the panchayat appoints a full time manager to supervise the processing of the garbage brought to the site, during normal working hours. The site will remain shut after working hours.
This Manager will maintain a log of the number of truckloads deposited at the site and will organise the segregation and management of wastes according to the process laid down by the court, which includes no garbage being burnt, plastics and medical wastes kept separately, and organic waste treated with microbial agents or alternative micro-organisms so that no smell emanates from the waste.
The Court has also observed that this dump is on a plateau above the Salmona Springs, and if the dumping here is continued, there would be a possibility of the water getting contaminated. In view of this, the court has directed that once the Solid Waste Plant in North Goa is set up, this site is to be reverted to the Forest department so as to rehabilitate and restore it to its original state. ---------------------------------- HERALD 2/10/03 page 4 ----------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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