the goan I network
MARGAO
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to carry out characterization of the waste lying inside the Sonsodo waste treatment plant, to ascertain whether the waste is compostable or excluded and bring to an end the row between the Margao Municipal Council and Fomento over the nature of waste.
At a joint inspection carried out at the Sonsodo site on Tuesday evening upon directions from the South Goa District Court, officials of the GSCPB, Fomento and MMC descended at the plant to discuss the of the nature waste lying inside.
MMC representatives comprising of chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, Chief Officer Sidhivinayak Naik and other officials contended that the waste lying inside is compostable and should be treated by Fomento.
On the other hand, Fomento insisted that the waste lying inside was excluded waste and must be carted out by the Civic body.
Taking note of the submissions made by the two parties, the two-member GSPCB team told the parties that the Board will take samples of waste and conduct characterization of the waste before issuing a certificate on the nature of waste.
Briefing the media after the inspection, Prabhudesai said the Pollution Control Board will issue a certificate of characterization of the waste after testing the waste samples, adding the Board is expected to issue the certificate at the earliest.
The MMC Chairperson said if the GSPCB comes out with a finding that the waste lying inside is excluded, the Civic body will cart away the waste and what is non-compostable will be bailed.
“The Court had directed the GSPCB to participate in the joint inspection after Fomento had insisted that the Civic body cart away the excluded waste, which the MMC had refused to do on the plea that the waste lying inside was compostable,” she added.
On other issues, including the request of the MMC to Fomento to permit the Municipal trucks laden with hotel waste to enter the waste treatment plant, the MMC Chairperson said Fomento has agreed to allow the trucks to enter the plant only in the morning on account of labour issues as well as apprehensions that miscreants may take advantage of the situation.
She, however, said the MMC decision to start night collection of hotel waste will continue, adding that the collected hotel waste will be sent to the plant only in the morning.
“It was the contention of Fomento that keeping open the treatment plant at night will involve labour issues and shifts. Moreover, they were concerned that miscreants may take advantage of the situation. We understand their concern, and hence we did not insist on keeping the plant open at night,” she added.
On the installation of the third baling plant, the MMC Chairperson pointed out that since the plant will face the logistic problem of installing the baling machine at the tipping point, it has been decided to set up the baling machine outside the plant.
The baling machine will come up outside the plant on a platform with Fomento promising to supply power to the machine,” she said, while exuding confidence that baling of dry waste will go in full steam once the third machine is installed at the site.
Prabhudesai to continue as MMC chairperson for now
