Wherever the Corporation of the City of Panjim goes with itsgarbage it courts controversy.
The CCP’s proposal to set up a garbage treatment behind theHeera petrol pump, on the outskirts of the city, is raising a stink since thearea is declared a No Development Zone in the city’s ODP.
It’s an eco-sensitive area having huge mangroves cover andadjoined with salts pans.
“Treated garbageproduces inflammable gas methane which easily catches fire, as seen at variousdumping sites. Since the proposed treatment plant is very close to Heera PetrolPump it could be very dangerous,” said Minguel Braganza, Secretary of BotanicalSociety of Goa.
He further pointed out that the area was very close to waterbodies which can get polluted.
“Even salts pans will be affected. We need to preserve eco-sensitive zones, especially mangroves which are declared as protected speciesin the State,” Braganza said.
Treating of any garbage has the problem of dealing withleachate.
“Leachate will contaminate water bodies which are near theCCP’s proposed plant,” Sabina Martins said.
The TCP said that the problem can be resolved byconcretizing the floor, which will prevent leachates from entering into thewater bodies.
“But can they concretize an area coming under CRZ zone,”Sabina Martins asked.
But senior city fathers want the plant to go ahead since since the garbage problem is going outof hand. “The government and CCP have to deal with the situation with an ironhand. They should go ahead with the plan come what may,” said corporator Surendra Furtado. “The garbage has to be dumpedsomewhere. It cannot be dumped continuously at the Parade Ground”, he added.
Furtado is clearly incensed with the opposition to theplant. “So what if the area is made up of mangroves or salt pans? The mootquestion is whether these salt pans are being utilized or not. Tomorrow we willsee huge buildings in the area. The opposition to Bainguinim was becausebuilders had purchased surrounding land in the area,” Furtado reacted.
Social activist, Oscar Rebello said: “If we go on objecting setting up oftreatment plants then we should propose an alternative place to thegovernment.”
According to CCP Mayor, Vadehi Naik there was an error inzoning of the area where the plant is proposed to be set up.
“We had written a letter to the TCP, who have cleared themismatch. They have now forwarded it to North Goa PDA who will rectify thesame,” Naik said.
