MARGAO
Concerned Citizens of Nuvem Constituency have upped the ante against the waste management plant proposed in Loutolim village, with a delegation of citizens on Thursday making a fervent plea to Waste Management Minister Atanasio Monserrate to implement a decentralised system of Waste Management in Goa.
The delegation of Concerned Citizens of Nuvem Constituency has reiterated their deep concern regarding the 250+20% Integrated Waste Management facility proposed to be set up at the Verna Industrial Estate. “At your behest, we had subsequently visited the existing Saligao Waste Management plant. The serious apprehensions created in our minds by this visit are substantiated even today, after eight years of the Saligao plant’s operation, by daily complaints from its surrounding residents regarding unbearable stench emanating from the plant, amongst various other problems faced by them. This however, spurred us to deepen our research into effective ways of managing waste,” the delegation stated in a memorandum submitted to the Minister.
They added: “In 2022, the National Green Tribunal in its order with respect to Original Application No. 606/2018, stated that “source level composting as well as partially centralised composting facilities in market and similar bulk generator premises shall be adhered to. It further went on to observe that “segregation of the solid waste at source and its earliest processing nearest to the point of generation with defined destination is Imperative. The order further suggested that “decentralised treatment plants can be explored, apart from imposing conditions of ZLD on industries, group housing societies, etc.”
The delegation pointed out that it was a matter of great satisfaction to discover that many villages in South Goa are already managing the garbage generated with reasonable efficiency. “In fact some of the villages we visited, namely Nuvem, Navelim and Camorlim can certainly serve as role models for a system of decentralised garbage management without any stench or odour whatsoever,” the delegation stated.
Nuvem villager Everson Vales said the delegation impressed upon the Waste Management Minister that the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has provided substantial support to some of the villages in the setting up of their waste treatment plants. “Hence we are convinced that a decentralised system is more practical for our State of Goa. We have requested the Minister to maintain, fine tune and strengthen the existing decentralised system of waste management,” he said.
To a question, Everson said the Minister was found open to the suggestions made by the citizens, saying that Monserrate has promised to take the stakeholders, including the villagers into confidence before taking a call on the waste management plant on the Verna Industrial plateau at Loutolim.
Loutolim villager, Franky Monteiro said the delegation suggested to the Minister that instead of the government spending Rs 250 crore on a centralised plant, the government can provide funds to the 40 village panchayats and the three municipal councils of Vasco, Margao and Cuncolim to set up their respective waste management plants.
