the goan I network
PANAJI
Margao MLA and former CM Digambar Kamat and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco whose constituencies are affected by the burning garbage dump at Sonsoddo were on Friday critical of the State administration’s handling of the situation but said they are hopeful it will be controlled in three to four days as assured by the government.
“Lack of co-ordination was the problem. Under the disaster management laws, procedures and protocol are already laid down that the District Magistrate has to take charge even if it is not declared ‘State Disaster’ officially. DM has powers to even summon machinery and equipment from private players in such situations. It should have been done from day one,” Kamat said emerging out of the high-level meeting chaired by CM Pramod Sawant.
Kamat said he was hopeful the situation will be controlled in three to four days as the Chief Minister has assured, now that the Collector will set up a nodal office and all operations will be executed under his overall supervision and co-ordination.
Meanwhile, Lourenco said he has already warned the State administration that the affected people from his constituency will take to the streets if the situation is not brought under control in the next three to four days.
Sonsodo is located in Lourenco’s Curtorim constituency and the MLA said his demands also include a permanent solution to the
problem which has been a bane for decades.
