From dump to dense forest: Sonsodo’s green revival

Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane launches the Urban Forest initiative at the Sosnodo waste management dump in the presence of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.

MARGAO
Forest Department’s first dense forest project was launched at Margao Municipal Council’s Sonsodo waste management site on the occasion of World Environment Day with the project not only envisaging a thriving green space at the legacy waste dump, but creating public amenities such as walkways.

Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat planted trees at Sonsodo in the presence of Forest officials and Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar, councillors and officials as part of the initiative to transform the legacy dump site into a thriving green space.

Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to protect the environment, Forest Minister Rane assured that the environment at Sonsodo will change for the better within six months.

“The area which once hosted a legacy dump will now turn into an environment-friendly area. In place of the legacy dump, a dense forest will take shape. Walkways and other amenities will be created for people,” Rane said.

Saying the Forest Department is committed to implementing the Prime Minister’s vision of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Nam' in Goa, Rane said funding should not be an issue to create a dense forest and green spaces in the State. “

"Sonsodo was once dreaded due to the unbearable stench. I assure you that the entire area will see a turnaround by December when the trees planted now will turn this into a green space. Forest officials will maintain and oversee the development of the forest,” he added.

In his address, Margao MLA Kamat complimented Rane for taking up the dense forest scheme in Margao as part of PM Modi’s vision of protecting the environment. “I am happy that the Minister selected Margao to implement the dense forest scheme. The scheme will help add green space in the State’s urban areas,” he said.

Reminding that Sonsodo was known for the wrong reasons over the years, Kamat urged the media to print photos of the trees planted at the Sonsodo legacy dump site to send a message to the people about the turnaround taking place at the site.

Kamat recalled the site's notorious past and expressed hope that the new forest would finally erase Sonsodo’s long-standing negative image. “Sonsodo was a dark spot over the years. There were complaints galore that nothing was being done to bring changes at Sonsodo. The dense forest scheme will once and for all change that. When the trees grow big, children can be brought here to explain to them the dense forest concept. The credit goes to the government and the Forest Minister for implementing the scheme in Margao,” Kamat said.