the goan I network
MARGAO
With the Goa Waste Management Corporation finally unveiling its plan to start remediation of the Sonsodo legacy dump, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo descended in the city here on Friday to work out solutions to contentious issues, including the availability of land for the temporary storage of Refused Derived Fuel (RDF).
In another development, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has invited Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to Sonsodo on Sunday when the remediation is expected to commence to understand the ground issues.
Lobo was closeted with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and officials of various agencies to take stock of the situation ahead of the commencement of the remediation process, as it is estimated that around 150 tonnes of RDF will be generated every day at Sonsodo from Sunday.
After discussions, both Lobo and Sardesai informed that the agencies have identified four sites to dump and store the RDF, but declined to identify the sites saying the list will be submitted to the High Court at the next date of hearing on December 20.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Michael said the government is serious in remediating the legacy dump, while exuding confidence that the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) will remediate minimum 70 per cent of the legacy dump before the onset of monsoons if the Corporation receives support and assistance from all stakeholders, the MLAs and the people.
He placed on record the support extended by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, but hastened to add that while Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat has offered his support, the support is still not forthcoming from the Margao MLA. “Let us all cooperate and help the initiative by leaving aside political and other differences. “We all have to be on one table to address the issue,” he added.
Lobo said the GSUDA land admeasuring 5,000 sq mts opposite the Margao railway station, which has been approved by the High Court, has not been dropped from the scheme of things. He, however, said the GWMC has identified four sites in and around Margao and Fatorda, including GSUDA land admeasuring 20,000 sq mts and private land admeasuring 4,000 sq mts. “These sites will be used for the storage of RDF or dumping of inert material if they find favour with the High Court and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB),” he added.
Lobo said the government is also working out a solution to the treatment of the daily waste generated in the city, saying “we don’t want our efforts at the legacy dump to go waste with fresh dump of the daily waste”.
The Fatorda MLA said he and the Margao civic body has fully cooperated with the government to resolve the Sonsodo imbroglio. In fact, Sardesai has invited Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to visit Sonsodo on Sunday when the GWMC starts the remediation exercise to understand the ground reality.
“After today’s meeting, we can now approach the High Court with a tangible solution to the sites required to store the RDF and inert, which will be acceptable to all. It is for the court to take a call, but we can say we have plausible alternatives which appears workable,” he said.
Saying the MMC is facing several constraints, Sardesai said the court has directed the MMC to deposit Rs 1 crore to repair the landfill site. “This amount will go waste if the landfill site is not used in the long run. We only say the amount has to be spent to bring about a permanent solution,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Power department has been asked to order a shutdown on the 33kv overhead line to allow the GWMC to clear the waste dump before installing the machinery at the site.Fomento ready to quit if MMC
willing to settle payments: Lobo
MARGAO: Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on Friday claimed that Fomento Green, which is running the Sonsodo waste treatment plant, is ready to quit the site if the Margao Municipal Council settles the company of the payments.
Lobo told the media that he had a meeting with the Chairman of Fomento Group, Avduth Timblo only four days ago to discuss the Sonsodo imbroglio, wherein Mr Timbo has expressed his willingness to exit from Sonsodo if the MMC makes the arrangement for the payment of at least one installment to the company and settle the balance amount via arbitration. “Fomento Green is ready to walk out of Sonsodo if the municipality is ready to pay one installment to the company and gives an undertaking to settle the balance amount through arbitration,” Lobo said. He, however, said he has doubts whether the MMC will be in a position to pay the installment money to the company.
