the goan I network
PANAJI
The situation at the Taleigao garbage dump aggravated on Tuesday with the fire inside the dump spreading rapidly, and emanating thicker black smoke that spread farther than Monday.
Unable to bear the toxic gas, residents of Adwalpalkar Horizon Residences called up the Fire Brigade a little before 4 pm.
A resident Mike Smith told “The Goan”, “Smoke was entering the apartment despite closing all the windows. When a tree caught fire, I called up the Fire Department.” The firefighters however, could not put out the flames till even four hours later.
The smoke on Tuesday reached the premises of the Goa University. Police personnel were deployed to divert the traffic, as it was impossible to see through the thick layer of smog that enveloped the road that connects Taleigao and Dona Paula.
Meanwhile at the site, Geetanjali Mehrotra, a resident of the area told “The Goan” that ashes had entered residents’ houses and besides spreading on the floor, had visibly dirtied all the clean laundry. “My husband and I moved to Goa from Delhi for our three-year old son to have fresh air to breathe in. But the last week has been terrible as far as air pollution in our neighbourhood is concerned,” she said.
Other residents told “The Goan” that they were shifting out of the area as the smog was a health hazard to them, and they couldn’t keep breathing in harmful gasses. They alleged that plastic garbage was intentionally being set on fire.
Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate who was at the site with the affected residents confirmed to “The Goan” that the fire had spread below the garbage, so it was difficult to put it out. “The fire has spread due to strong winds which are carrying the smoke even farther,” she said.
Taleigao Sarpanch Janu Rosario claimed that as the three tankers of the Fire Department were not enough, the panchayat had to send for 20 more water tankers. He said the panchayat will find a permanent solution to the problem by starting a new garbage plant after the elections. “The file is with the government,” he said. Currently, only dry garbage is being sent to the dump, being bailed and sent to Belgaum from there, he added. Meanwhile, the sarpanch, MLA, and residents will meet on Wednesday at 10:30 am to discuss how to resolve the problem.
When contacted, Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) Sharmila Monteiro told “The Goan” that the panchayat would be charged penalty fees for the excessive pollution.
