CAG Report Exposes Critical Gaps in Goa's Urban Waste Management
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has delivered a stark assessment of solid waste management in Goa. A recent report tabled in the state's legislative assembly reveals significant shortcomings in how Urban Local Bodies handle waste.
Treatment Deficiencies and New Dumpsites
The audit findings are concerning. Between the financial years 2017-18 and 2021-22, Urban Local Bodies collected waste across fourteen locations. However, only seventy-eight percent of this collected waste received proper treatment.
This treatment gap has forced a troubling outcome. Authorities have established new dumpsites to accommodate the untreated waste. These sites now pose environmental and health risks to local communities.
Policy Implementation Falls Short
Goa's government notified a Solid Waste Management Policy in 2018. Officials revised this policy again in 2024. Despite these regulatory steps, the CAG report identifies a core problem.
Urban Local Bodies have not executed effective planning. This planning failure has directly hampered proper waste management across the state. The policy exists on paper, but its real-world application remains weak.
Financial and Operational Failures
The audit scrutinized specific bodies, including the Corporation of the City of Panaji and four municipal councils. It uncovered serious financial mismanagement.
ULBs failed to boost their revenues through efficient user charge collections. Significant arrears accumulated as a result. This financial shortfall crippled their ability to fund essential waste management activities.
Operational challenges compounded the financial issues. The report highlights a critical shortage of dedicated staff for waste management. Shockingly, no sanctioned positions exist within the ULBs specifically for this crucial function.
Capacity Overload and Unmet Goals
Another critical finding involves insufficient waste estimation. ULBs did not accurately project how much waste communities would generate. This led to severe processing capacity limitations.
A glaring example emerged in the Margao Municipal Council. A facility designed to process just 5 tonnes of waste per day was forced to handle 35 tonnes daily. This sevenfold overload made effective processing impossible.
Consequently, the fundamental goals of solid waste management remain unmet. Source separation of waste is not happening. Efficient transport systems are lacking. Safe processing of waste is not achieved.
CAG Recommendations for Improvement
The Comptroller and Auditor General has issued clear recommendations. Urban Local Bodies must prioritize the creation of comprehensive solid waste management plans.
These plans need to address both immediate short-term objectives and sustainable long-term goals. Proper planning, adequate staffing, and financial discipline are essential to resolve Goa's waste management crisis.
