the goan I network
MARGAO
What was feared all along last year that remediation of the Sonsodo legacy dump may be hampered for want of land to dispose of the rejects, including inert and compost, may come true this year.
For, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has sent an SOS to Margao Municipal Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar to find land for the disposal of the inert and compost, categorically conveying to the head of the Municipal administration that non-availability of land may hamper the remediation operation.
That the machinery mobilized by the GWMC Corporation is not operating to its full capacity is a pointer that the Civic body is yet to make available land for the disposal of the remediated waste till date.
In fact, GWCM Managing Director has told the MMC Chief Officer to identify land having capacity to dispose minimum 30,000 cubic meters of remediated waste, mostly inert and compost for an initial period, i.e. before the onset of monsoon
That the GWMC Managing Director has dispatched his third reminder to the MMC administrative head to take up the matter “on a priority” and his subtle warning to the Civic body that non-availability of land may hamper the remediation works at Sonsodo gives clear indication that the MMC is still struggling with the task of identifying land for the disposal of the RDF, inert and compost.
“Remediation work results in the generation of by product such as RDF, inert and compost. This office has been asking the Margao Municipal Council over a period to identify land for inert and compost,” Martins told the MMC Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar, who had taken over the reigns of the Margao Civic body around a month ago.
The GWMC had started work on the remediation of the Sonsodo legacy dump around December 15 by installing a screening machine and has since added two more screens to expedite the process with a target to remediate at least 70 per cent of the legacy dump before the onset of monsoons.
Officials pointed out that work on the ambitious project, which may cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 42-odd crore, assuming Sonsodo plays host to around 2.30 lakh cubic meters of legacy dump, may not progress as per the schedule in the event the Civic body is found wanting in identifying land to cart away the remediated waste.
Incidentally, when The Goan visited the Sonsodo on Wednesday to find out the ground reality, work had come to a halt and even the third machine, is still not put to use.
MMC Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar, who was scheduled to inspect Sonsodo on Wednesday, is now expected to descend at the site on Thursday to get a factual report on the situation.
