CCP stores garbage in underground parking lot

Garbage and controversy continue to haunt the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). On Wednesday, vehicle owners found to their dismay that the underground pay parking lot run by the CCP, at the new market complex, was emanating foul stench.

"I was wondering why the place was stinking, when I saw garbage being dumped inside the premises," said a vehicle owner, who spoke on conditions of anonymity. TOI visited the site and saw several sacks filled with papers, plastic and other non-biodegradable waste stored in the underground parking premises. Apart from swarms of flies, there was foul stench, which vehicle owners said indicated that organic waste was also mixed with the dry waste. When contacted, new city commissioner Elvis Gomes said he had been receiving calls regarding the matter since Wednesday morning and that the waste would be cleared from the place by Thursday.

"Upon inquiry, I was told that only non-biodegradable waste has been kept there. The waste was to be taken for recycling, but was kept at the underground parking lot due to rains, as a temporary measure," he said. Opposition corporator Surendra Furtado said that the CCP had no reason to use the underground pay parking lot as a place to store waste. "When people are paying for a place to park their cars, how can the CCP use the same place to store garbage? he asked.