the goan I network
MARGAO
Officials of various government agencies, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Goa Waste Management Corporation, Margao Municipal Council and others descended at the Sonsodo dump at 4.30 pm after the High Court on Wednesday morning issued directions to identify land admeasuring 5000 square meters at the site for storage of inert waste generated out of remediation.
The High Court issued the directions after an affidavit was filed by the authorities, stating the status of land acquired by the MMC opposite Sonsodo, but falling in Raia village, the existing waste dumping site and the land admeasuring 53,000 square meters acquired by the MMC for the waste treatment
plant.
No sooner, the High Court issued directions to inspect the Sonsodo site at 4.30 pm on Wednesday and file a report on Thursday morning, officials of the agencies rushed to Sonsodo from Panjim to ascertain the status of the land required for
remediation.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer, Sidhivinayak Naik pointed out that the High Court has specifically asked the agencies to find out the area of the landfill site set up at Sonsodo and whether the site is feasible to accommodate the inert waste generated during remediation.
During inspection, officials found from Fomento officials that the land fill site occupies an area admeasuring 1500 square meters. Moreover, it was pointed out that the site may not be of help for dumping of the inert waste, which requires further transportation to the cement factories at Karnataka. “We will file the status report before the High Court on the landfill site as well as the other sites on Thursday,” the Chief Officer told the media. GSPCB Member Secretary Shamila Monteiro was also present at the inspection.
Residents of Raia led by former sarpanch Xavier Fernandes and Anthony Barboza, however, opposed any move to store the inert waste in the MMC land opposite Sonsodo, saying it is a green zone.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai also opposed any such move, even as Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo said the GWMC will respect the sentiments of the Raia villagers. To make available alternate land, the Fatorda MLA later tried to find out space around 2000 square meters near the Sonsodo site.
