The agreement reached between NGOs and the government on the Saligao garbage treatment plant is a landmark. It is difficult to think of an instance in the past where NGOs and the government sat across the table and worked out a solution. The formulation of Regional Plan 2021 was also a milestone on the socio-political map because it saw the participation of the government, NGOs and people. But it fell apart when NGOs refused to stand by the plan and today it remains an incomplete exercise.
The Saligao garbage plant was a contentious issue on account of one reason “ suspicion, which was manifested in many ways, eventually resulting in a petition before the National Green Tribunal. Unlike in the past, this time the NGT literally forced both parties back to the negotiating table, a rare but much required nudge. Left with no option and with one of the NGOs under fire for blocking infrastructure projects, the talks turned out to be quite a success. The agreement between the two parties was accepted by the NGT and the matter dismissed.
A key clause in the agreement says that the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell will inspect the plant once a month to take stock of the progress made. This clause not only gives the Cell a stake in the plant but also thrusts on it the responsibility of overseeing its progress and functioning. The Cell has agreed to undertake this burden and this decision needs to be praised because for the first time the Cell will move away from being an impediment to the plant and become a participant or stake holder.
Of course a key demand of the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell was the location of the plant. The Cell was of the view that the present site was not suitable and would result in contamination of springs in the vicinity. The fact that the plant is nearing completion was like a fait accompli and there was apparently no point in debating this point, but only time will tell who was correct.
Another contentious issue pertained to the quantum of garbage. It was agreed that the plant would not go beyond its 100 tonnes per day capacity, but there is no mention of the demand that garbage from North Goa should not treated at the plant. This is now superfluous because with the Cell acting as supervisor, garbage management should not be much of a problem.
This dialogue is significant because for the first time two leading NGOs “ Goa Foundation and the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell entered into secret, across-the-table negotiations to hammer out a solution. This is how the government normally operates, but is definitely a first time for NGOs who are more used to public debates through the media.
On another level, the agreement is a marker because it has shown that on issues of importance (a garbage plant is of paramount importance to the state which has been grappling with the problem for over a decade now) NGOs can actually sit across the table and arrive at a meeting point through the process of give and take.
The process gives Goa hope of a resolution over the two other infrastructure projects “ third Mandovi bridge and a bridge across the Tiracol river, both opposed by Goa Foundation. Or are we hoping for too much?
