MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council has missed the High Court deadline to address the contentious issue of setting up the 15TPD Bio-Methanation plant to resolve the garbage tangle plaguing the commercial capital.
No doubt, the Margao Civic body filed a status report before the High Court on Monday, but the report did not contain any firm proposal or plan on the question of setting up a garbage treatment plant to treat the 30-odd tonnes wet waste generated in the city.
If sources are to be believed, the MMC has reportedly mentioned in the status report filed in the High Court that the civic body has written to the government to convene a meeting of the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC) headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
That the Chief Minister-headed HPCC meeting did not take place by July 5, 2024 as per the High Court deadline assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the High Court had expected the MMC to decide the issue on priority.
In fact, while disposing of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Citizens for Sonsodo through its Secretary Roque Mascarenhas, the High Court had made a clear observation “we expect the HPCC to address these issues as soon as possible and issue necessary directions to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and the Margao Municipal Council (MMC)”.
The High Court had made the observation after the Advocate General D Pangam made a reference to the establishment of the 15TPD Bio-Methanation plant at Sonsodo or making the 5TPD Bio-methanation plant at the SGPDA market operational, stating that High Powered Coordination Committee (HPC) would meet and take a decision on these issues.
Sources in the MMC informed that the civic body had informed the HPCC through the official channel to convene a meeting, drawing attention of the government to the deadline set by the High Court to file the status report/affidavit by July 5. “We have no idea why the HPCC did not convene the meeting of the panel to discuss the 15TPD bio-methanation plant. This question needs to be answered by the HPCC which is headed by none other the Chief Minister”, remarked a civic official.
Sources informed the MMC has in the status report/affidavit listed out the progress of work in connection with other issues including installation of the power transformer at Sonsodo. As far as laying a sewage line to the Sonsodo, the MMC has maintained that the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd has prepared estimates for the work, adding that the tender will be floated shortly.
In respect of the sanitary land fill site, the MMC has filed a report that the Civic body had deposition funds with the Goa Waste Management Corporation, adding that the Municipality will deposit the balance funds at the earliest.
High Court observation on setting up plant at Sonsodo while disposing of the PIL.
When Advocate General D Pangam made a reference to the establishment of the 15TPD Bio-Methanation plant at Sonsodo or making the 5TPD Bio-methanation plant at the SGPDA market operational, stating that High Powered Coordination Committee (HPC) would meet and take a decision on these issues, the High Court Bench made a pointed observation “we expect the HPCC to address these issues as soon as possible and issue necessary directions to the GWMC and the MMC”.
The Court issued a clear direction on the question of setting up the 15TPD Bio-methanation plant at Sonsodo or making the 5TPD bio-methanation plant operational, asserting the Margao Municipal Council file a status report/affidavit on this particular issue in the Court by July 5, 2024.
Directions to MMC and the Goa Waste Management Corporation while disposing of the 2019 PIL petition. (BOLD)
(i) The MMC will ensure that a new transformer will be installed at the Sonsodo site within three months;
(ii) The GWMC must complete the construction of the sanitary landfill at the Sonsodo site within six months;
(iii) The GWMC must complete the retaining wall construction along the plot boundary at Sonsodo as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, before 30.06.2024;
(iv) 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;
(v) The MMC, GMWC, and the Sewerage and Infrastructural Corporation of Goa must file compliance/status affidavits by 05.07.2024.
