PANAJI: The directorates of panchayat and municipal administration have said that monitoring waste burning is difficult and enforcing such a hefty penalty was not practical, putting the onus on citizens to desist from dumping and burning of waste.
The two directorates will soon write to all local self-governing bodies asking them to impose the fine stipulated by the National Green Tribunal to curb the widespread practice of burning of garbage and green waste.
The local bodies and environment protection agencies will now have to keep a check and impose a fine of Rs 25,000 against a person who is found burning waste in open.
But officials pointed out that the particular step may not prove to be efficacious in Goa, a tourist destination, where visitors throw the waste anywhere and everywhere.
“It’s practically not possible for the panchayats to monitor every nook and corner for waste burning. Moreover lack of cooperation and negative attitude of the people worsen the situation,” an official from the panchayat department said.
A senior official from the directorate of municipal administration also said that lack of public awareness has resulted in poor response from the citizens. Thus it becomes really difficult to manage the rising waste without active participation of the state government, its departments, local authorities and the people.
“However, we will soon issue instructions to chief officers of municipalities to ensure strict compliance of the court order and also direct them to sensitise their workers not to burn any waste and further act on the complaint against any incidents of waste burning, even though it is difficult to do so in view of manpower shortage,” the official said.
While imposing the ban on burning of waste, including garbage, leaves, plastic and crop residues, the National Green Tribunal had also asked the civic authorities and state governments to spread awareness on ill-effects of burning of waste in open spaces.
The garbage dumped along roadsides and fields has been a cause of major inconvenience to both residents and motorists. The burning of this garbage leaves behind a layer of soot on houses; and residents, especially senior citizens, complain of severe air pollution.
Toxic emissions from vehicles and waste burning are the main causes of air pollution in some cities of the state. As a result, PM2.5 has exceeded three times in last two years, according to ambient air quality data of the Goa State Pollution Control Board.