Most people would prefer to avoid making a trip to a garbage treatment plant. Not Reginaldo Lourenco. The MLA from Curtorim paid a visit to the plant at Sonsodo on his birthday where he expressed “unhappiness” over the manner in which the plant was functioning and advised that the focus should shift to clearance of the old garbage, which had piled up over the last two decades. Reginaldo did not elaborate why he was unhappy. He did not explain which part of the plant was not functioning properly. He did not interact with the staff or talk to the person in-charge to ascertain if there were any
problems or ask if any help was needed from his side. He just complained.
The two constituencies most affected by the Sonsodo dump are Margao and Curtorim and it becomes the burden of Digambar
Kamat, who represents Margao and Reginaldo to ensure
that the plant functions at optimum levels. The Sonsodo garbage
treatment plant has been in
operation since 12 December 2012.
It was built at virtually no cost to
the exchequer but the problem is
that the Margao Municipal Council
has failed miserably in taking the
whole task of clearing and treating
garbage forward.
Till date the MMC has not succeeded
in implementing segregation at
source. Even though the Sonsodo plant can handle mixed garbage,
segregation at source ensures that the quantum of inert
material that goes to the landfill site is reduced. This in turn increases
the lifespan of the landfill site. Secondly, the two MLAs
and the MMC are still not on the same page as far as treatment
of the existing garbage is concerned. Thirdly, the tender floated
for bio-remediation of old garbage, which is a fancy term
for segregation, places burden of shifting the existing garbage
on the MMC. Neither the MMC nor the two MLAs have an idea
as to where the one lakh tonnes of existing garbage will go.
They are burdened with this problem because everyone rejected
capping of the dump. It’s a case rejecting a solution without
thinking of a viable alternative. And instead, Reginaldo made
a meaningless trip to Sonsodo for a photo opportunity.
This is what happens when MLAs and councilors stop being
leaders and turn into followers of their voters. This is also what
happens when one builds an education system that places a
premium on memorizing and not problem solving. This is also
what happens when no one is willing to take a stand based
on scientific evidence and backed by technology. The plant at
Sonsoddo was constructed four years ago but politicians have
failed to put segregation in place. For this failure, the city and
its people and neighbouring constituency of Curtorim are the
main sufferers. If the Sonsodo issue remains unresolved it is
because we have too many politicians and too few leaders.
