Monitoring-cum-Working Committee (McWC)A Monitoring-cum-Working Committee (McWC) for solid waste management was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister for Environment in 2011 to assist, support and consolidate the efforts of various government departments, local Panchayati Raj Institutions and NGOs working in the area of solid waste management. Besides monitoring the enforcement of the Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act 1996 and Rules 1997, and the Plastic Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 2016, the committee is also mandated to plan waste management awareness programmes at all levels, including schools and colleges, and also assist panchayats in the handling of solid waste. As stated, the committee also looks into aspects regarding provisions of Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016, and suggests various measures for implementation and improvement in the legislation/rules in respect of the same. While the committee is serviced by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) provides appropriate financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid to GSPCB to undertake various activities.
SWM (Solid Waste Management) CellPost the constitution of the McWC, a dedicated Solid Waste Management Cell was constituted under the Department of Science & Technology to assist the McWC to provide the necessary support for setting up two integrated solid waste management facilities in the state.
High Level Task Force (HLTF)In 2012, the Government of Goa constituted a High-Level Task Force (HLTF) under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Chief Minister at the time to provide directions and implement various measures towards addressing the solid waste management problems affecting the State of Goa.
The HLTF comprised:
• Chief Minister – Chairman
• Dy. Chief Minister/Minister for Urban Development – Vice Chairman
• Minister for Panchayats – Member
• Minister for Environment – Member
• Chief Secretary – Member
• Chairman, Goa State Pollution Control Board – Member
• Principal Secretary, Environment – Member
• Principal Secretary, Urban Development – Member
• Secretary, Panchayati Raj – Member
• Commissioner, City Corporation of Panaji – Member
• Member Secretary, GSPCB – Member Convener
All the heads of Department in the Department of Public Works, Forests, Environment, Tourism, Health, Municipal Administration / Urban Development, Panchayats, Town and Country Planning, Industries Trade and Commerce, Collectorate (North Goa), Collectorate (South Goa), Superintendent of Police (North) and Superintendent of Police (South) were permanent invitees to the HLTF.
The HLTF was empowered to:• Handle all aspects pertaining to the solid waste management problems of the state.
• Decide, regulate, handle and monitor all the efforts of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in solid waste management.
• Lay down guidelines, finalize requisite technology, choose appropriate place/site/location, provide necessary benefits (fiscal as well as non-fiscal) and facilitate the process of setting up garbage treatment plants as per the decision to be taken by the HLTF.
• Take decisions pertaining to solid waste management with respect to setting up of solid waste management facilities within the state.
• Provide for appropriate remedial measures including sensitization and awareness programmes or any other need-based interventions to ULBs/PRIs.
• Provide for plastic phase out and introduction of an alternate substitute material with a fixed timeline for implementation.
• Provide directions in terms of the guidelines/legal provisions related to solid waste management.
Subsequently, in a cabinet meeting in August 2013, it was decided to designate the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) as the nodal department; the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) as the executing agency; and, the High Level Task Force (HLTF) as the decision-making body for setting up of solid waste treatment facilities in the state.
The HLTF was mandated to have full powers to take all administrative and financial decisions and also provide directions in terms of the provisions contained in the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, other waste management and handling rules as defined under the Environment Protection Act 1986, Rural Garbage Disposal Scheme, 2005 and the Goa Panchayat (Grant of Financial Assistance to the Village Panchayats to deal with Plastic Garbage Menace) scheme, 2017. All the directions issued by HLTF shall be under section 5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986, in exercise of the powers delegated to the Government of Goa vide Notification No. S.O 881 dated 22/09/1988, issued by Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India.
The Goa Waste Management Corporation Act, 2016The Goa Waste Management Corporation Act, 2016 (Goa Act 19 of 2016) was passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 10 August 2016, and was assented to by the Governor of Goa on 12th September 2016. The Act makes special provision for securing the orderly establishment and development of facilities for the management of various types of wastes in the manner provided under law, to assist in the organization and scientific management of waste, and for that purpose to establish the Goa Waste Management Corporation.
