Once a psychiatric nurse by profession, Gordon Campbell-Thomas a British environmentalist has come to Goa and has joined
hands with a former cop to help Goa address one major
menace: garbage.
========================================= Folks,
Gordon Campbell-Thomas has an excellent track record in the UK as an environmentalist and has featured in Goan Voice UK (issues 2002-43 and 2004-09, for example).
Goa does have a major garbage problem. A couple of days ago we had reports of a clash over garbage between some residents of Saligao and Calangute, for example. What is puzzling is that Mumbai is relatively free of abandoned garbage. A Sri Lankan article caught my eye earlier today:
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Headline: A lesson in garbage clearance from Mumbai
By: Chandani Jayatilleke
Source: Lakehouse Daily News, Sri Lanka, 2-May-05 at http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/05/03/fea02.htm
Excerpts: The mounting garbage menace
Garbage is a problem sweeping across all developing nations. However, some countries have already developed their systems to efficiently handle the issue; they have succeeded by following examples from developed countries.
Lessons from Mumbai
A Mumbai-based journalist, Stanley Glancy sent us a report on his experiences with the garbage issue in Mumbai, where he lives and works. Mumbai was known as one of the most polluted cities in the world. But Glancy says things are fast changing mainly due to ambitious plans. What is unique about Mumbai's plan is that they do not confine to plans. The authorities and citizens continue to work on such plans.
Most of Greater Mumbai (Bombay) is clean. The Bombay Municipal Corporation does a good job of cleaning up the city everyday. The problem areas are the slums. And Mumbai has lots of them. But it's more of a people's problem here rather than any fault of the Municipality.
As of now, the Government is addressing this issue by knocking down slums that were built after 1995 and providing the others low costing housing. But it will be some time before this actually shows effect. It may take another five years. Right now Mumbai is a city under construction. And the next few years will be the make or break years.
How do Mumbai authorities handle this situation? Well, there are various approaches adopted by the Government. And it's encouraging to see that even the populace has been extending a helping hand since most seem to realise it's their problem as well.
Citizens forums
Specially the up market and the middle class sections of the city have initiated citizens forums, which have appointed private contractors that do the job. Every resident in that locality has to contribute towards this effort. Generally, it could be a sum as low as Rs 20-Rs 50 (Indian currency). Not much to pay for a clean locality. Some societies have even come up with initiatives to convert the garbage into manure for its gardens.
Many former dumping grounds have been converted into beautiful landscape gardens, which prevent people from dumping garbage there and such initiatives are then adopted by others. This is an ongoing process.
Our Municipality also outsources waste collection activities to private contractors. Sometimes corporates sponsor the whole initiative. They are given certain tax benefits for their efforts.
Also if they have adopted a certain area they are allowed to place advertisement boards around that area - a cost effective initiative.
Composting
Even rag pickers, are being trained by NGOs in composting, gardening, and maintenance of bio-gas plants. This is generally in partnership with the municipal corporation - a successful model. In most areas the Municipality also has programs to collect garbage from door to door.
Else there is a common collection point for each apartment block. People either deposit garbage directly or the society arranges for someone to do the collection and the Municipality then takes it from there.
Clean the city programme
There is a 'Clean Mumbai Campaign' every year. It concentrates on intensive cleaning of the city ensuring garbage clearance within 24 hours especially prompt clearance at chronic points. There are also nuisance detection squads to monitor the programme. This is supported by volunteers from NGOs and educational institutes.
All hawkers have to ensure that they have cleaned the area where they hawk before leaving for the day. Penal action is taken against people breaking this rule. Most areas have been cleared of hawkers. They have been given specific locations to sell their wares.
There are various initiatives in the pipeline - increasing numbers of collection points and increasing number of garbage bins around the city. There are steep fines too for spitting and stuff. But it's not very effective because the cops themselves are among the culprits.
Promotional activities are on to promote the reduce-recycle-reuse waste management program by educating people in segregation of wet and dry garbage. This will reduce transportation costs and also the amount of garbage handling.
END Full text at http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/05/03/fea02.htm
