the goan I network
MARGAO
Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai on Monday unveiled plans to get in new technology to handle mixed waste at Sonsodo, with a provision to generate CNG, even as he set a four-day deadline on the Margao Municipal Council to put in place short-term measures to cap the stink and well water contamination in and around the site before the monsoon.
Sardesai further said that a settlement with Fomento, which is presently operating a waste treatment
plant at Sonsodo, should be on the cards, but hastened to add that the Margao Municipal Council will have to negotiate with the company on issues concerning the plant.
The Deputy Chief Minister descended on the Sonsodo dumpyard site on Monday morning with officials of the Margao Municipal Council to take stock of the situation and to put in place both short and long-term measures to resolve the Sonsodo imbroglio.
As part of the short term measures, the Deputy CM called for a survey of all the drinking water wells which have been left contaminated by the leachate from Sonsodo. While calling for the survey report before May 10, he has told the civic body to introduce fish in the wells with the assistance of the health department.
While instructing MMC officials to move a note to his office to take up the issue of covering the Sonsodo dumpyard with the Chief Secretary to exempt the civic body from the election code of code from floating a tender, Sardesai further told the civic body to fumigate the entire site to keep the foul odour and flies at bay.
He also told the MMC to empty the leachate tank before the monsoon and also examine whether the tank can be connected to the underground sewage network.
Saying that the Sonsodo mess was inherited by the present dispensation, Sardesai said the issue can be solved if everyone concerned, including Fomento, Margao municipality, civil society, citizenry come together.
“If there is a technology which can treat mixed waste and produce CNG, why it should not be seen. There may be some problems with the technology, but I have asked experts to conduct a thorough study on this new technology,” he said.
Saying he does not want to set any timeline for the introduction of the new technology at Sonsodo, he made it clear that the government has not zeroed in on any technology and added that it will have to float expression of interest before roping in a new company.
To a question on Fomento, Sardesai said that Fomento will have to be settled since it has made a claim. “I am not saying we will terminate the agreement with Fomento. We will have to negotiate. If the municipality don’t want to cooperate in the matter, Fomento can drag the civic body to the court. Both Fomento and Margao municipality have social obligations, but the latter is more responsible because we have elected representatives,” he added.
