With the High Court getting tough on local bodies to maintain proper collection and disposal of garbage, several panchayats in Tiswadi taluka have begun the process of identifying disposal sites. According to reports, several panchayats in the taluka have started identifying the disposal sites to avoid fine of Rs 1,000 per day, which the High Court directed the government officials to impose on the local bodies. It may be recalled that in a recent judgement, the High Court has decided to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on municipalities and Rs 1,000 on panchayats, if they failed to collect and dispose off the garbage as mentioned under Solid Waste Management rules. The garbage problem had become a menace over the last two years with the local bodies not being able to solve the problem. Panchayats from Carambolim, Corlim and Old Goa already started their process of identifying garbage disposal sites in their jurisdiction. Carambolim panchayat Sarpanch Wilson Valladares informed that when the government officials visited the panchayat last time to inspect the site, an area near Carambolim was inspected, which was later opposed at the gram sabha. "Since the inspected site was in close vicinity to the religious place, panchayat had suggested another site belonging to Carambolim communidade. A site admeasuring about 70,000 sq mtrs near the Carambolim lake,' said Mr Valladares. Mr Valladares felt that the site was suitable for garbage and if the government officials wanted to inspect the site, they could inspect it and mark 4,000 sq mtrs of land required for garbage disposal. Mr Valladares informed that there were strict instructions from the high court to the state government to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on the panchayat, if a garbage disposal site is not shown. "But till date, no government officer has approached the panchayat to know the site,' he added. Speaking to Herald, Corlim panchayat Sarpanch Joao Lobo informed that his panchayat had earlier shown a site near Banastarim Bridge to the concerned government officials, which was rejected by Goa Pollution Control Board. "We have called for an emergency meeting on Monday to look out for a new site,' informed Mr Lobo. "If it happens again, then they would not able to do anything on it as no villager was ready to allow garbage disposal site close to their homes,' he added. While Old Goa Sarpanch Janita Madkaikar was not available for the comments, the panchayat secretary told Herald that the panchayat has already identified a site of around 50,000 sq mts at Ela in Old Goa. "A resolution has been taken at the panchayat meeting and a process to acquire the land for garbage disposal site is on,' said the panchayat secretary.