What is this high-drama at Sonsodo all about? The stage-managed street show witnessed during Solid Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo’s visit to the garbage site was unwarranted and appears to be only aimed at settling political scores with the Calangute MLA.
Getting people on the streets with placards is not the way to seek solutions to the vexed garbage issue which has been piling for over four decades. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai is only trying to fire from the shoulders of people who were gathered at the site. He doesn’t have the high moral ground to thwart Lobo’s attempts in resolving the issue because he has failed miserably in resolving it despite holding the high office of Deputy Chief Minister during the Manohar Parrikar regime.
The Margao Municipal Council and Vijai have to their credit a string of failed attempts. From experimenting with the dual technology of Hyderabad-based Hyquip to Komex Industries and the Black Hole US-patented machinery, all have failed miserably. For a short time, the civic body was even toying with the idea of thermophilic biomethanation container-based garbage treatment plants. It would make better sense if Vijai and the MMC focus on an audit of the money spent till now, more than creating roadblocks. Crying hoarse over the non-functional High Powered Coordination Committee is not going to help the cause now, more specifically when the minister himself had exuded confidence of finding a solution.
Sonsodo garbage treatment has come a long way and continues to be peppered with failed experiments and flawed decision-making. Lobo is now attempting to resolve the long-standing issue and has every right to do so. Solutions cannot be sought on the roadside and discussions over such a serious issue can’t be held with banners of protests and aggression. If there are genuine efforts, they have to be thrashed across the table. Those trying to fire from the shoulders of people must look within for their failures first and allow the new minister to handle it his way. Moreover, since the Solid Waste Management Corporation has decided to take over the remediation process from October, the ball is the government’s court from hereon.
The SWM Minister’s announcement of introducing the latest technology from Norway and Sweden to tackle Sonsodo garbage may not enthuse many because of the several earlier technologies that have failed. But for now, there is no better solution than waiting in hope. If the local MLA and the MMC are genuine in their concern, they should join in and offer suggestions and support renewed efforts. We understand that there is a bitter war going on between Vijai and Lobo ever since the former fell out of the BJP-led coalition government. Sonsodo issue cannot be a platform to settle such scores. The political drama over Sonsodo must end.
