The mountain of mixed waste that now covers over half the ground and rises like a tidal wave represents the failure of a segregation-at-source system that was once considered exemplary.
The CCP boasted of being the first civic body to effect segregation of waste at source more than a decade ago. While some of the waste was treated separately a lot of it was virtually remixed and dumped at Campal.
And though efforts are on to sieve all the waste, it could be months or even years before the whole dump is cleared. No one in the CCP knows where the segregated dry waste will be dumped.
Incidentally, the portion where the waste was dumped falls in the ward represented by Mayor Surendra Furtado.
“This has been piled up for the last seven years. Panaji’s garbage was being dumped there which included dry, wet as well as mixed waste”, said Furtado admitting that even during his earlier stint as the mayor waste was being dumped there.
About 12 years ago the CCP set up a composting station at Campal and the plan was to dump only dry wastes like leaves, tree branches etc. Gradually, composting was stopped on account of smell and mixed waste began to find its way to the dump, which closely resembles the mountain of waste at Sonsoddo, Margao.
It might be recalled that the YMCA, members of the Methodist church, Rajani Charitable Trust, and Holy Angels Convent first wrote to the CCP, the health director and the Pollution Control Board asking them to stop the dumping of garbage. When there was no response they approached the high court with a public interest petition.
When former CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues was contacted for comments, he admitted that Panaji’s mixed waste was being dumped at Campal ground.
“Campal site has been existent for the past 12 years. There are two types of waste “ dry waste and mixed waste. The wet waste can be composted. For dry waste already material recovery facility has been started at St Inez where processing is going on. Panaji was generating a lot of mixed waste. It took me 4 years to eradicate and eliminate this mixed waste. Presently, there is no dumping taking place at Campal,” assured Rodrigues.
BOX:
FOOTBALL STADIUM AT CAMPAL
* Tender for construction of a football stadium at Campal ground has already been floated by Goa State Urban Development Authority (GSUDA)
* Estimated to cost Rs 25 crore, the stadium will have a turf, as well as pavilion with internal works, etc to be completed in a year
* The technical bid will be opened on June 28 and the financial bid on July 5
* Presently, the dumped garbage is being sorted at the site
