Ire over fire: Residents raise war cry against unsegregated waste dumping

MARGAO: Agitated residents of Curtorim and neighbouring villages marched to the Sonsodo waste dumping site on Sunday evening after a public meeting at Curtorim, demanding a total stop to the dumping of unsegregated waste at the site and the shifting of the waste dump from Sonsodo.
The residents have threatened to stage a dharna and protest on Monday if Margao Municipal Council transports unsegregated waste to the site. They have demanded freezing of construction of multi-dwelling units in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal Council till the Civic body resolves the waste issue.
Speakers also demanded that the Goa State Pollution Control Board make public the report of the air monitoring stations and further demanded a judicial probe to fix responsibility on the persons responsible behind the fire and action against the guilty persons.
The residents confronted Additional Collector, Agnelo Fernandes and other officials over the failure of the authorities to cap the smoke for a week now, demanding immediate action. Before dispersing from the spot, the residents threatened to launch a stir from Monday if unsegregated waste continues to find its way to Sonsodo from Margao.
The meeting held on the Curtorim side the Sonsodo dump yard near the Veterinary hospital saw speakers including local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, ZP member Moreno Rebello, Sarpanchas of Curtorim Rui Menezes, Raia Esmeralda Gomes and Camurlim, Basil Fernandes, besides residents demanding a permanent solution to the waste dump issue. The speakers lamented that though the people of Maina had been exposed to the toxic smoke for a week now, no medical teams have been seen around the area till date.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco said that only segregate waste should come at Sosnodo or the residents will stop all waste transported at the site. He informed the people that the High Powered Coordination Committee headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will meet on June 4 at2.30 pm at the Secretariat to take stock of the situation. “Our agitation will continue till the dumped is cleared the existing waste”, Reginaldo warned.
Curtorim ZP Member Moreno Rebello wondered why the police has so far not acted against the MMC Chief Officer for putting the lives of the people to risk. He further demanded that the MMC freeze all multi-dwelling constructions in Margao and Fatorda till the Civic body addresses the waste problem.
Curtorim Sarpanch Rui Menezes said the people should be prepared to take to the streets and get the Municipality stop the dumping of waste at Sonsodo till the smoke is contained. “The MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai had assured that no garbage will be dumped at Sonsodo till the fire and smoke is capped, but in vain. We should be prepared for an agitation”, he warned.
Speakers, including Panch member Simon Barretto, Rupesh Shinkre, Orlando, Roque and others highlighted how the smoke has affected the residents and the failure of the administration to resolve the issue since the last seven days.
Raia Sarpanch Esmeralda Gomes said people of Raia along with Curtorim have been facing the brunt of the Sonsodo waste, demanding immediate capping of the smoke. Her Camurlim counterpart Basil Fernandes wondered why Sonsodo dump is not resolved when the government has cleared the Saligao dump, demanding to know whether the government has neglected Sonsodo because it falls in Salcete.