MARGAO
The massive waste dump on the land acquired by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) for the proposed hockey ground near the swimming pool, Fatorda, was engulfed by fire on Monday.
Smoke was found billowing out from the acquired land, which resembled a mini-waste dumping yard. Just a glance at the acquired property shows that mixed waste has been finding its way to the site, comprising construction debris, green tree waste, and plastic waste.
The property was levelled and filled up by the government during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city for the Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa rally in February this year to house the temporary KTC bus stand. Since then, the SAG-acquired property has come in handy for institutions as well as contractors to dispose of construction debris, silt removed from drains, and trees cut down during the monsoons.
In fact, a visit to the site has revealed that branches of trees dumped by the contractor have been set alight, raising the moot question as to why the Margao Municipal Council, nor the city MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai, nor the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has initiated measures to stop the illegal and unauthorised waste dumping at the site.
Meanwhile, a pick-up van was caught red-handed dumping waste at the site on Monday. The vehicle driver, however, said this was the first time he had dumped waste at the site, even as he lifted away the waste disposed of on the ground.
