Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Nov 27: While large number of people are demanding withdrawal of Garbage Tax at Jirkatang Check Post the Pradhan of Ferrargunj Gram Panchayat, Mr Muneswaran firm with his decision and said that collection of Garbage Tax at Jirkatang Check Post is a necessity.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha today afternoon over phone, Mr Muneswaran said that hundreds of vehicle with around thousands of tourist are passing through Jirkatang area every day.
“A lot of Garbage gets dumped in Jirkatang Check Post area due to the gathering of huge number of tourists at Jirkatang Check Post. Ferrargunj Panchayat is paid Rs 7 lakhs for Sanitation to cater the garbage management needs of all the 7 wards of the Panchayat but majority of this fund is spent at the Jirkatang check post area,” said Mr Muneswaran.
The Panchayat has already deployed 06 staffs, exclusively for cleaning the Jirkatang Check Post area and the Panchayat is paying around Rs 56000/- every month as salary to these staffs.
Now, each day the Ferrargunj Gram Panchayat is earning an amount Rs 1500/- by collecting the garbage tax, which will reduce the burden of Ferrargunj Panchayat.
“The Panchayat is going to develop the area for the tourists with the money, which is collected through the Garbage tax, there is already a proposal of construction of four bio toilets in the area and the funding for which will be done by the Tourism Department, the panchayat will also be renovating the present toilet block in the Jirkatang area,” said the Pradhan of the area.
Mr Muneswaran also said that if this initiative becomes a success then the Panchayat will also apply for a matching grant.
