MAPUSA
Minister for Waste Management Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate assured to revisit the Saligao waste treatment plant and resolve the problem of foul smell raised by the people of Calangute.
The minister gave the assurance to a delegation of the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) who met him and submitted a memorandum on complaints from villagers about the bad stench they have been living with for the last several years.
“The minister gave us a patient hearing and agreed to visit the plant again and the surrounding affected areas to find a solution to the problem,” said Premanand Diukar, President of CCF.
“We have high hopes that the minister will resolve the issue on priority keeping the interest of Calangute constituency and the State,” he added.
Diukar informed that the CCF delegation gave a detailed explanation to the minister about how people from Saipem, Orda Candolim and Calangute suffered all these years due to the stink from the garbage plant.
“We impressed the minister that the foul smell from the plant not only affects the villagers but also tourism along the coastal belt,” he said.
He said Google images revealed that some garbage heaps still existed outside the compound of the garbage treatment plant.
He further said that a stagnant water body was also observed through the Google image.
The NGO president informed that it will be visiting the waste treatment plant again by May-end to check whether any precautionary measures have been taken by the authorities to avoid untreated dirty water from rolling down the hill into the village drainage system during the onset of monsoon.
MLA must stop playing politics, help resolve issue: Forum
MAPUSA:
The President of Calangute Constituency Forum, Premanand Diukar said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo should felicitate on finding a solution to the foul smell issue instead of making an unnecessary political statement.
Diukar also said the CCF has been taking up issues in the interest of the people of the Calangute constituency and Goa and not for their interest.
“The local MLA was the minister of waste management for years and is very well aware of the long-pending issue of the bad stench emanating from the plant. He should take the initiative to resolve the issue rather than passing unnecessary political statements,” Diukar said.
“Sarpanch of Candolim has admitted that the stink from the waste plant also affected the village of Candolim and was unbearable,” he added.
Candolim Sarpanch Blaize Fernandes has been on record that the waste treatment plant emitted a foul smell which travelled to Candolim and other areas.
