the goan I network
MARGAO
Upon a suggestion from South Goa district judge B P Deshpande, a joint inspection of the Sonsodo waste treatment plant will be carried out on October 1 at 4 pm involving officials of Fomento, Margao Municipal Council, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and other agencies concerned.
The judge suggested for the joint inspection after differences cropped up between the two parties in the open court on the question of carting of accumulated inert waste in the plant, permission for MMC trucks laden with hotel waste to enter the plant in the wee hours and to consider the request of MMC to install third baling machine inside the plant.
Fomento’s senior legal counsel, Adv R Dada, drew the attention of the court that around 150 tonnes of inert waste was lying inside the plant, pointing out that it’s the responsibility of the civic body to cart it away. MMC lawyer, Adv S Padiyar, raised issues such as inert and residual waste, pointing out that while inert waste has to go to a landfill site, the plastic waste is baled and transported outside the state.
There was a difference of opinion between the two sides on the question of allowing MMC trucks inside the plant in the wee hours of the day. Adv Padiyar submitted to the court that the MMC has started late-night collection of wet waste from hotels, adding that the collected waste remains in the trucks till the time the plant is opened for operation by the company.
Adv Dada, however, countered by saying that the plant cannot be kept open throughout the night since it involves labour issues. When the judge suggested to Adv Dada whether any arrangement can be made for allowing the MMC trucks laden with wet waste before the plant’s operation starts in the morning, he agreed to discuss the issue with the management and the labour union.
Since differences between the two parties came to the fore on these three issues, Judge Deshpande suggested holding a joint meeting by involving the GSPCB officials so that a decision is taken on types of waste lying in the plant, and to find out whether there is space to have a third baling machine.
