The Times of India 16.11.2010
No iffy waste management this Iffi
PANAJI: Unlike previous editions, waste management issues for the upcoming International film festival of India (Iffi) have already been settled this year.
The state government, last week, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). Under the MoU, the state will pay the CCP ` 10 lakh for undertaking the responsibility, city officials said.
"The CCP will take care of the cleanliness and solid waste management at Iffi precincts," city commissioner Elvis Gomes said. The precincts include Inox multiplex, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) at the Old Goa Medical College building, Kala Academy and the Corniche road.
"The MoU was signed last Friday, we are yet to receive payments. The monies include payments for permission to put up temporary structures and festival signages," Gomes added.
Incidentally, last year, Panaji mayor Carolina Po had said that the CCP was paid ` 10.5 lakh to pick up Iffi's garbage, and ` 2.5 lakh for signages. She had also said that the CCP was to receive a government grant of ` 20 lakh for minor repairs, painting of kerbs and maintenance of the Iffi stretch from Inox to Kala Academy.
When asked about this, Gomes said that the CCP never received the grants. "The works were taken up by the CCP, but the money did not come in from the government. It (the works) had to be done from CCP funds," he said.
The commissioner further said that CCP would not take up the responsibility of minor repairs, painting of kerbs and maintenance of Iffi precincts this year. TOI learns that the state PWD will handle these works instead.
Meanwhile, with the MoU signed, this year's Iffi may not witness previous editions' drama between ESG and the CCP .
Collecting Iffi's garbage has been a weapon wielded every year by the CCP to get a site for its waste management programme at Bainguinim, Old Goa - an intention strongly opposed to by the locals there.
Given the opposition, the CCP would collect Iffi waste and dump it in a quarry owned by the Goa University. That issue too has been resolved with the varsity's land now being transferred to the state government who has allowed the local (Taleigao) panchayat to use the quarry.
The Taleigao panchayat in turn has got into an agreement with the CCP for the civic body to take care of the village's waste management in lieu of usage of the abandoned quarry. It maybe pointed out here that education minister and Taleigao MLA Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate politically controls both, the CCP and the Taleigao panchayat.
The state government, last week, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). Under the MoU, the state will pay the CCP ` 10 lakh for undertaking the responsibility, city officials said.
"The CCP will take care of the cleanliness and solid waste management at Iffi precincts," city commissioner Elvis Gomes said. The precincts include Inox multiplex, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) at the Old Goa Medical College building, Kala Academy and the Corniche road.
"The MoU was signed last Friday, we are yet to receive payments. The monies include payments for permission to put up temporary structures and festival signages," Gomes added.
Incidentally, last year, Panaji mayor Carolina Po had said that the CCP was paid ` 10.5 lakh to pick up Iffi's garbage, and ` 2.5 lakh for signages. She had also said that the CCP was to receive a government grant of ` 20 lakh for minor repairs, painting of kerbs and maintenance of the Iffi stretch from Inox to Kala Academy.
When asked about this, Gomes said that the CCP never received the grants. "The works were taken up by the CCP, but the money did not come in from the government. It (the works) had to be done from CCP funds," he said.
The commissioner further said that CCP would not take up the responsibility of minor repairs, painting of kerbs and maintenance of Iffi precincts this year. TOI learns that the state PWD will handle these works instead.
Meanwhile, with the MoU signed, this year's Iffi may not witness previous editions' drama between ESG and the CCP .
Collecting Iffi's garbage has been a weapon wielded every year by the CCP to get a site for its waste management programme at Bainguinim, Old Goa - an intention strongly opposed to by the locals there.
Given the opposition, the CCP would collect Iffi waste and dump it in a quarry owned by the Goa University. That issue too has been resolved with the varsity's land now being transferred to the state government who has allowed the local (Taleigao) panchayat to use the quarry.
The Taleigao panchayat in turn has got into an agreement with the CCP for the civic body to take care of the village's waste management in lieu of usage of the abandoned quarry. It maybe pointed out here that education minister and Taleigao MLA Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate politically controls both, the CCP and the Taleigao panchayat.
