The Department of Municipal Administration, Directorate of Panchayats, Press Information Bureau and Goa State Pollution Control Board jointly organised a Regional Press Conference on the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 at the Conference Hall, Central Library, Panaji, today.
The press conference was attended by Brijesh Manerkar, Director of Urban Development; Dr Geeta Nagvenkar, Member Secretary, Goa State Pollution Control Board; Dashrath Redkar, Director of Panchayats; and Nana Meshram, Director, PIB.
Brijesh Manerkar, highlighted various measures being undertaken in Urban Local Bodies of Goa for effective implementation of the Rules and compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court dated 5 May 2026.
He further stated The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, came into effect from 1 April 2026, replacing the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The new Rules emphasise source segregation, scientific waste management, Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility and the Polluter Pays principle.
He also stated a key focus of implementation in Goa is four-way segregation of waste at source into Green: Wet and biodegradable waste, Blue: Dry and recyclable waste, Red: Sanitary waste and Black: Special-care waste, including batteries, expired medicines, CFLs and other notified materials requiring special handling.
Manerkar stressed that The Councillor /Mayors and their Chairpersons, Corporator, or Sarpanch/Panch/ Ward Member, being the primary elected representative of the people,are designated as the lead facilitators for source-segregation education. It is their statutory duty to engage every citizen within their ward in the implementation of the 2026 Rules.
He also said that The Government continues promoting segregation through awareness, IEC and behavioural-change activities involving households, institutions, businesses and other waste generators across the state.
Manerkar said that Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) are being brought under a structured registration and compliance framework. Establishments meeting prescribed thresholds, including 20,000 sq. metres or more of floor area, 40,000 litres of daily water consumption or generation of 100 kg or more of solid waste per day, fall within the BWG criteria. As on 30 September 2026, 412 BWGs had been identified across Goa — 195 in North Goa, 202 in South Goa and 15 in Kushavati — and the material presented at the conference states that all identified BWGs had been registered on the CPCB portal.
He further said the State is promoting Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (RRR) initiatives, with 14 RRR Centres reported across ULBs. Under Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, being observed from 17 September to 17 October, 262 activities had been reported up to 30 September. Awareness messaging on solid waste management is also being carried on 30 KTC buses.
He also said that Citizens have been encouraged to segregate waste at source, reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible, hand over waste through authorised collection systems and dispose of sanitary and special-care waste as prescribed.
He also informed that The Swachhata-MoHUA App enables citizens to report cleanliness and sanitation issues by selecting a complaint category, uploading photographs and providing location details, while also enabling tracking of complaint status.
Dr Geeta Nagvenkar stated that The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), along with the Special Cells constituted in North Goa, South Goa and Kushavati Districts, has intensified implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 in the State. Taluka-level enforcement teams comprising SDMs, Mamlatdars, Police Officers and technical personnel have been constituted for field monitoring.
Dr. Nagvenkar further said that Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have been issued to defaulting local bodies, requiring clearance of garbage blackspots, improved waste infrastructure, CCTV surveillance and operationalisation of waste-processing facilities. She also said that GSPCB, in collaboration with GIPARD, has also undertaken capacity-building programmes for local officials and elected representatives, while Supreme Court directions have been translated into Konkani for wider dissemination. The Special Cells are also coordinating with CPCB to strengthen IT-enabled compliance reporting.
Departments of the Goa Government has urged citizens, institutions and businesses to actively participate in strengthening solid waste management and keeping Goa clean.
