the goan I network
VASCO
Speaking to The Goan, Godinho said, “For the last seven years I have been after the government to provide land at Verna Industrial Estate for panchayats to set up a garbage treatment plant to tackle garbage of villages in close proximity to the industrial estate.”
“As mandated by the High Court, we had identified these two sites and now with Navy refusing to give permission to construct a shed to segregate garbage at Alto-Chicalim, there is no choice but to dump it along the roadside,” said Godinho.
“We are facing a serious problem to dispose our garbage. I had a meeting with the chief secretary, chief minister and other officials to find a solution to our problem, but it did not materialize,” added Godinho. Accusing the Mormugao Municipal Council of acting in a discriminatory manner, Godinho added, “It’s surprising to see that MMC collects garbage from the Naval residential area, airport and Coast Guard area, but refuses to accept garbage from our panchayats.”
“Since we have no option left, the government should identify a land and give it to us, or allot a plot at Verna Industrial Estate, so that both panchayats can segregate the garbage and send wet garbage to MMC garbage treatment plant at Headland Sada,” said Godinho.
Speaking on the newly constructed garbage treatment plant at Saligao, Godinho said the garbage treatment plant set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore is under utilized and to operate the plant it needs huge garbage otherwise it would turn into a white elephant.
“The government should allow garbage from other areas, including Chicalim and Bogmalo, to keep the plant in operation. I will take up the issue in the assembly in the next two days,” said Godinho.
Says flat no to
casinos as well
VASCO: Naval and civil authorities rarely agree on issues around the naval enclave in Mormugao, but this time around, the naval officials appear to have sided with local bodies in flatly objecting to any moves to anchor off-shore casinos at Chicalim Bay.
When The Goan sought to know whether the navy was aware of the proposal of shifting the off-shore casinos to Chicalim bay, the naval officials said their head office was aware of the issue and that, they would not allow off-shore casinos to be anchored at Chicalim bay, as it is a high security zone.
“When we deny permission to the garbage segregation site citing defence norms, how can we allow anchoring of casinos which would be in close proximity of the armament depot?” questioned Navy commander Ashley Derrick.
