South Goa sets November 30 deadline for bulk waste generator registration

MARGAO: The South Goa district administration has set a November 30 deadline for the on-site verification and registration of all unregistered bulk waste generators (BWGs) on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal. The directive was issued by South Goa Collector and District Magistrate Egna Cleetus during a review meeting of the District Level Committee on solid waste management.

The push for compliance follows the implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which supersede the 2016 regulations and mandate strict waste management protocols for large-scale generators. The rules require a four-stream segregation of waste at the source, categorising it into wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste. Entities generating 100 kg or more of solid waste daily, or meeting specific floor area and water consumption thresholds, must register online and process wet waste on-site.

According to CPCB records dated September 30, 2026, only 124 of the 385 identified BWGs in South Goa had completed their registration on the centralised portal, leaving 261 establishments outside the compliance framework. During the review, the committee noted that 25 inspections were conducted across the talukas in September, resulting in 20 directions issued for violations of the SWM rules.

The panel also reviewed 32 public complaints related to garbage dumping and littering across the district. To address the low registration rate, Cleetus instructed the Special Cell to maintain separate online lists of identified and registered BWGs to ensure targeted enforcement. The meeting, held in compliance with Supreme Court directions, was attended by Deputy Collector Bhiku L Gavas, sub-divisional magistrates, mamlatdars, block development officers, and representatives from the Goa Waste Management Corporation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).

The slow uptake in registration highlights the administrative challenge of enforcing the amended SWM rules across a district with a high concentration of hotels, commercial complexes, and gated communities. To bridge this gap and assist stakeholders, the GSPCB will conduct practical demonstrations of the centralised portal for Special Cell officials and taluka-level teams.

Additionally, the committee discussed CPCB guidelines concerning registration and annual return processing fees for BWGs. Cleetus directed departmental staff to complete an iGOT Karmayogi online course on the 2026 SWM rules to improve grassroots implementation. Public awareness initiatives, including infographics, newspaper advertisements, and student-led street plays promoting waste segregation, were also reviewed. The administration plans to issue monthly press notes detailing the Special Cell's inspections to maintain transparency.