MAPUSA
The State government and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo seem to be heading on a collision course, with Lobo on Friday saying he would not allow expansion of the Saligao treatment plant unless the government sets up more such waste treatment plants in South Goa and other places.
He also said garbage from other civic bodies and panchayats made its way to the Saligao treatment plant bringing the plant under strain and blamed some leaders for putting political pressure to dump garbage from their areas at the plant.
“We are not going to allow expansion of the treatment plant at Saligao until the government comes up with such plants in Bainguinim, Cacora (in South Goa) and another plant of smaller capacity in Mapusa,” Lobo said.
He further said he and Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar were on the same page on the issue.
It may be recalled the State government had recently issued the letter of intent to the Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd for expansion of the solid waste treatment facility at the Saligao treatment plant.
The Calangute MLA said the capacity of Saligao treatment plant was 125 tonnes, but at the moment it was treating waste beyond its capacity.
“We don’t want to make another Sonsoddo. We need to establish more garbage treatment plants. More such treatment plants must come up in South Goa, Bainguinim and Mapusa. If not, this garbage plant will die,” he said.
He said garbage from Ponda municipal area, Taleigao, St Cruz and St Andre panchayat areas were brought and dumped at the Saligao plant.
“Everybody thinks that garbage has to be sent here. The stink from the wet garbage percolates the environment, causing unease among the locals,” Lobo said.
It may be recalled residents from Saligao and Calangute had protested against the stench emanating from the waste treatment plant.
Some locals had also complained to the Goa Pollution Control Board on the environment pollution.
The state-of-the-art Saligao treatment plant was built at a cost of Rs 146 crore.
