GWMC reiterates that Margao waste being treated at corporation-owned Cacora plant is interim arrangement
The Sonsodo legacy dump cleared of the decades old waste by spending crores of rupees of tax payer’s money by the government. The dump is lying idle when the objective behind clearing the waste was to reclaim the area and use the same to set up a wast
MARGAO
In a development that has raised questions on Margao Municipal Council’s silence on waste management at the Sonsodo waste management site, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has reminded the Margao civic body on its submission made before the High Court for the setting up of a bio-methanation plant at Sonsodo.
In a letter addressed to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz, GWMC Managing Director Ankit Yadav, IAS has raised a host of questions, right from the setting up of the Bio-methanation plant, to the construction of the landfill site and the analysis of the leachate generated at the Sonsodo waste management site.
The GWMC Managing Director not only reminded the civic body over its submission made before the High Court on the setting up of the bio-methanation plant, but further reminded the MMC Chief Officer that the Margao waste treated at the Corporation-owned Cacora waste treatment plant is an interim arrangement till the Civic body has it own wet waste treatment facility. This particularly point made by the GWMC assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that it’s now more than a year since the High Court had disposed of the PIL filed by Citizens for Sonsodo and the 15TPD Bio-Methanation plant is yet to take shape at the Sonsodo yard.
It further assumes significance given that the GWMC, in its letter to the MMC Chief Officer, has noted that the Corporation has completed remediation of the old legacy waste at Sosnodo and the land already handed over to the Margao Municipal Council.
That’s not all. The GWMC Managing Director has in the letter maintained that the Margao Municipal Council “shall” take the decision on setting up bio-methanation at Sonsodo and accordingly file an affidavit before the High Court in matter of PIL 45/2019.
“ The MMC had made a submission before the High Court for setting up bio-methanation plant at Sonsodo. It may be noted that GWMC has completed remediation of old legacy waste at Sonsodo and the land is handed over to MMC. Presently the wet waste generated by MMC is transported and treated at Solid Waste Management Facility at Cacora, which is an interim arrangement till MMC has its own wet waste treatment facility. ln this regard, MMC shall take the decision on setting up bio-methanation at Sonsodo and accordingly file an affidavit before the High Court in matter of PIL Wp 45/2019”, the letter stated.
This is perhaps the first time since the High Court had disposed of the PIL 45/2029 that the GWMC has dashed off a letter to the Margao Municipal Council, reminding the Civic body on its submission made to the Court to set up a Bio-methanation plant at Sosnodo. That the GWMC Managing Director has sought to remind the MMC Chief Officer that Margao waste treated at Cacora plant is a purely interim arrangement till the MMC has its own waste treatment facility is a message loud and clear that the Civic body should move forward to set up its own waste treatment plant at Sonsodo as per the submissions made to the High Court.
Testing of leachate
generated at Sonsodo
With the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) extending the sewer line to the Sonsodo site for disposal of sewage and treated leachate, the GWMC Managing Director has requested the MMC Chief Officer to test the leachate generated at Sonsodo on monthly basis and submit the test results to the SIDCGL.
In this respect, the GWMC has stated that analysis of the leachate shall be conducted on monthly basis by Margao Municipal Council (MMC) from a laboratory recognized by MoEF&CC and reports shall be submitted to SIDCGL.
“The SIDCGL has extended the sewer line to Sonsodo site for disposal of sewage and treated leachate. Also The network has been commissioned and connected to the main sewer network. SIDCGL has requested to test the leachate at Sonsodo on monthly basis and submit the test results to SIDCGL”, the letter stated.
Sanitary landfill tender
cancelled by GWMC
The tender floated by the Goa Waste Management Corporation as per the High Court directions for the construction/repair & refurbishment of the Sanitary landfill at Sonsodo has been cancelled as the bid validity has lapsed after the MMC failed to deposit the balance amount.
In the letter, the GWMC MD stated “In its order dated March 12, 2024, the High Court had directed GWMC to complete construction of sanitary landfill at Sonsodo. Accordingly GWMC had floated tender for "Construction/ Repair & Refurbishment of Sanitary Landfill at Sonsoddo Margao". However, even after frequent follow up till January 2025, Margao Municipal Council failed to deposit the balance amount of Rs 91.54 lakh to undertake the said works and hence GWMC had to cancel the tender as the bid validity has lapsed.”, the letter stated.
High Court’s directions to
MMC on March 12, 2024
*The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) must complete the construction of the sanitary landfill at the Sonsodo site within six months
*The Sewerage and Infrastructural Corporation of Goa must complete the work to extend the sewerage line to Sonsodo within six months from today to facilitate the disposal of sewage and treated leachate
*The MMC, GMWC, and the Sewerage and Infrastructural Corporation of Goa must file compliance/status affidavits by 05.07.2024
* In so far as the balance work, like repairs to various types of equipment or establishments of 15 TPD bio methanation at the Sonsodo site or making operational 5 TPD bio methanation plants near the SGPDA market at Margao, is concerned, the learned AG stated that the high powered committee (HPC) would meet and take a decision on these issues. Accordingly, we expect the HPC to address these issues as soon as possible and issue necessary directions to the GWMC and the MMC. The MMC must file a status report/affidavit on this issue by 05.07.2024
