GSPCB’s observations
- A tipper truck arrived at the site and moved towards the western side of the unit
- As the undersigned and the GWMC official approached, the tipper was seen dumping mud. A JCB was also moving towards the same spot
- The tipper left after dumping the mud
- On closer examination, it was found that mud had been dumped over mixed waste, including sanitary waste
- The JCB began levelling the heaps of mud that had been dumped before the inspection
- The area is along the western boundary of the unit and is close to Manovikas High School
- A large part of this boundary area has been backfilled using the same method
- A significant portion of the land has been covered and levelled with mud
- Photographs documenting the site conditions are attached
MARGAO
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar has landed in trouble after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued a show-cause notice asking him to explain within seven days why action should not be taken against him under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for dumping unsegregated and mixed solid waste, including sanitary waste, at the Sonsodo waste management site.
The notice follows a GSPCB inspection which found that the Margao Municipal Council dumped around 20 tonnes of unsegregated and mixed solid waste, including sanitary waste, and then covered it with mud.
GSPCB Chairman Levinson Martins has warned the Chief Officer that if he fails to respond satisfactorily, the Board will take strict legal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, without further notice.
The notice refers to the inspection findings, which showed that the Council dumped approximately 20 tonnes of unsegregated and mixed solid waste, including sanitary waste, and covered it with mud. “Such dumping is a serious violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and is causing an environmental hazard in the area,” the Chairman said.
Citing powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, along with the relevant government notification and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the GSPCB Chairman has directed the Chief Officer to immediately segregate and remove the dumped waste and dispose of it in a scientific manner.
The Council has also been instructed to dispose of the sanitary waste at the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility in Kundaim.
In addition, the MMC has been told to remediate the site and restore it to its original condition.
The Chief Officer must submit a compliance report within seven days and stop all further dumping of waste, including sanitary waste, and stop covering it with mud, as seen in the photographs.
To verify MMC records on sanitary waste disposal, the GSPCB Chairman has also directed the Chief Officer to submit month-wise details of the quantity of sanitary and domestic bio-hazardous waste sent to the Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility at Kundaim.
