It must be said that the garbage dumped at dumping sites like Sonsodo, Sada, and other places across the state, are an environmental and health hazard in more ways than one.
The large heaps of garbage besides polluting the surrounding air, also pollutes the ground water. During the monsoon, the rain water at the garbage dump forms leachate which seeps into the ground thereby contaminating the groundwater.
Much of the leachate also spreads in the surrounding areas where people live. It seems absolutely necessary to shift the dumping sites in Goa to a place far away from the cities. It is pertinent to note that mining activities in the state have come to a complete standstill.
There are several mining pits which have been abandoned as they have become unproductive since the iron ore at these pits has been exhausted.
These abandoned mining pits could be put to good use. All the waste from the garbage dumps could be shifted and dumped into these abandoned mining pits far away from residential areas. This garbage could then be treated as per convenience.
As of now it is observed that the amount of garbage that arrives at the garbage dumps far exceeds the amount of waste that is being treated. This leads to a build-up of garbage at these sites. If all the garbage in the state is dumped at these abandoned mining pits, to a great extent, it will not affect the citizens.
ADELMO FERNANDES, vasco
