Rupesh Samant

Panaji, May 7: Notices issued by the city Corporation to the Bulk Waste Generators in its jurisdiction giving them deadline of a fortnight to set up their own processing plant has angered the mayor, who has accused the commissioner of 'not taking the council into confidence'.

The notices, which were signed by CCP commissioner Shashank Mani Tripathy, were issued to forty-four people, this week, giving them a time of fifteen days to set up processing unit in their premises.

The commissioner in the notices issued to bulk waste generators, including multi dwelling units, has directed them to set up processing unit of composting or bio-methanisation, within fifteen days, failing which the CCP will 'not collect any further bio-degradable waste generated by them'.

Tripathy has quoted Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s notification issued on April 8, 2016, which mentions that 'all the bulk waste generators are mandated to treat and process bio-degradable waste within their own premises'.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, CCP Mayor Uday Madkaikar accused the commissioner of harassing the citizens under the garb of implementing three-year-old guidelines of Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The mayor told reporters that the commissioner had issued notices to the citizens without taking the council into confidence, thus creating panic amongst the tax-payers.

“When we collect tax on garbage from the people, it is our responsibility to accept and treat the waste generated by them. We cannot shirk off our responsibility, pointing out to some old rules,” he said, accusing the commissioner of acting on the behest of political forces against him.

He said that the CCP will not be harsh on the people and will set up processing units for the citizens in their premises. “CCP will set up initiative of setting up the units for the people at its own (CCP) cost. They need not panic due to the notices,” the mayor said.