the goan I network
MARGAO
The Cuncolim Municipal Council might have dished out an impression that all's well at the garbage treatment plant when the site was inspected by the Goa State Pollution Control Board on November 27.
A glance at the observations made by the GSPCB revealed that all was not indeed well at the plant site, with the Pollution Board officials coming clear that the landfill is not properly maintained and no records of inert waste disposed in landfill are maintained. Moreover, the Board officials maintained that the landfill is not being utilised, even though the Chief Officer Shankar Gaonkar had made light of the fact that the landfill was virtually lying in shambles.
Otherwise, consider this. The GSPCB observed that the landfill facility at the site was not in operation and that the seepage proof lining of the landfill had given way at many places. That the GSPCB issued directions to ensure that the landfill is maintained properly and the inert waste is disposed into the same indicates that the civic body was found wanting on the maintenance front.
The GSPCB further observed that foul odour was sensed near the composting pit wherein the chicken waste and waste generated from beef/pork shops/stalls is disposed.
It was also observed that non-biodegradable waste was also found along with the disposed biodegradable waste in composting pits.
Though the Cuncolim Municipal Council has a door-to-door waste collection mechanism, the GSPCB pointed out that the dry waste and wet waste generated is not collected separately, adding that the waste collected is not been baled and handed over to the SWMC on regular basis.
When The Goan drew attention of the ruling CMC group member and ex-chairperson Mario Moraes to comment on the GSPCB observations indicting the civic body, he said that the ground reality is changing at the waste treatment facility since November 27, the day of the GSPCB inspection.
"As promised, the civic body has almost cleared the mound of waste found at the plant site in the last few days. Though the civic body has just received the GSPCB directions, the Cuncolim Municipality will implement all the recommendations and directions issued by the Pollution Board," he said.
Mario pointed out that the Cuncolim civic body has chalked out a programme at the waste treatment plant site in the first week of January wherein medicinal and fruit bearing trees will be planted at the site. "We intend to invite students from the town schools for the programme," he said.
