The District Level Committee meeting on solid waste management was chaired by Egna Cleetus, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate of South Goa and Kushavati districts, and prioritised implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 (SWM Rules, 2016) in compliance with the Supreme Court directions in Civil Appeal No. 6174/2023. The session was attended by Ramesh Gaonkar, Additional Collector-II, Prajeet R. Chodankar, Deputy Collector South II, senior revenue officers and representatives from municipal councils, health, urban development and tourism departments, along with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and other implementing agencies.

The district magistrate was assigned responsibility for monitoring waste management facilities and for conducting regular inspections across jurisdictions, and directions were issued to the Goa State Pollution Control Board to coordinate with relevant departments and prepare monthly compliance reports. Officials reviewed the powers available under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to support enforcement and discussed measures to act against bulk waste generators found violating the rules, including disconnection of water and electricity supply where necessary.

The meeting reviewed the responsibilities of the District Level Committee, the district magistrate and the member secretary of the GSPCB to ensure effective implementation of the SWM Rules, 2016, and clarified the operational duties assigned to Taluka Level Teams. Those teams, to be headed by sub divisional magistrates, were instructed to inspect dumping sites, monitor incidents of illegal dumping, identify blackspots and bulk waste generators, and to collate and forward fortnightly reports to the GSPCB for follow up.

All deputy collectors and sub divisional magistrates were directed to constitute the inspection teams within three days and to finalise action plans to address identified non compliance. The committee emphasised intensified inspections, regular reporting and coordination among civic and state bodies as the means to strengthen oversight and to accelerate compliance with the SWM Rules, 2016 across South Goa.