Why is everyone still stressing about the garbage treatment plant at Saligao?
- Not everyone. Just the Saligaocars…. and now the Pilernekars. The rest of Goa is quite detached.
The Chief Minister said the plant is 80 per cent complete and machinery is on the way here from Germany. Why can’t the people of Saligao and Pilerne wait till the plant is commissioned?
-This is Goa dude. We love to debate, discuss and protest … all at the same time.
I don’t get it.
- You see, those against the plant are of the view that it should not be built in an eco-sensitive zone. They want it moved about 700 metres away from the present site.
I know, but it was quiet for a while. What happened for the people to beat the war drums?
- You are right. It was quite until the chief minister opened his mouth.
What did he say?
-Initially, the plant was supposed to treat garbage from Saligao and Calangute. Gradually more villages were added and the chief minister recently said it would cater to the North Goa district.
He widened the scope without asking them. No wonder they are all pissed.
-You are right, dude. In one stroke he united all of them.
But if the plant has the capacity to treat all the garbage from North Goa, what is the problem?
- Nobody is sure if the plant will work, because nothing run by the government works efficiently. Saligaocars are worried that they will be stuck with all the garbage.
Are you saying the technology is unproven?
- No, not at all. The biological mechanical treatment technology is proven. It has two stages -- segregation of garbage and treatment of the wet waste. This technology has been successfully adopted around the world.
If the garbage is going to be treated, what is the problem?
- Dude, the garbage needs to be transported through the village to the plant site. Imagine 50 garbage laden trucks rolling through the village. The stink will change Saligao forever. That is why the villagers asked for a dedicated road to the plant.
Does this mean the plant will not be completed?
- The government has invested almost Rs 150 crore and it will be completed. But there could be trouble if the government goes ahead with plans to bring garbage form all villages is the north.
Not another agitation.
- In Goa, it’s never over until the protestors say so.
