PORVORIM
Pilerne Dy Sarpanch Amarnath Govenkar has insisted that residents of Pilerne-Marra and Saligao are totally opposed to the dumping of garbage by panchayats or municipalities from South Goa at the Saligao Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP)
“Even the Saligao MLA Kedar Naik and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo have expressed their views in this regard in the recent assembly session. Besides, Saligao and Pilerne Panchayats in the gramsabha have already adopted resolutions opposing the dumping of garbage at the Saligao SWMP, which incidentally, falls in the jurisdication of Pilerne panchayat,” said Govenkar.
“The Saligao SWMP is already overloaded and further dumping of garbage may affect its performance. If Margao Municipal Council continues sending their garbage from Sonsoddo, there may a law and order problem in Pilerne and Saligao,” he added.
Govenkar sought to know why garbage from Sonsodo was not being sent to the Cacora Solid Waste Management Plant.
“Why is the Cacora Solid Waste Management Plant not being used to full capacity? Garbage trucks from Margao can easily go to Cacora, which is much closer and moreover, has the required capacity to treat garbage. It is only 21 kms from Sonsodo to Cacora, while it is 45 kms from Sonsodo to Saligao,” Govenkar added.
“We have stopped trucks carrying garbage from South Goa because leachate from flowing from their trucks on our narrow roads in Pilerna had been endangering motorists, especially two-wheelers. Some had even met with an accident. Locals are unhappy with these garbage trucks coming in from South Goa,” said Govenkar.
Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira claimed that the high court has not permitted the State government to dump the garbage at Saligao SWMP.
“The high court has ordered the State government to dispose the garbage lying at Sonsodo. The State government has told high court that Sonsodo garbage will be sent to the Saligao plant,” said Sequeira.
“Both the MLAs of Saligao and Calangute are in the BJP. If the State government does not care for them, then the views of sarpanchas do not have any weight. The Saligao and Calangute MLAs should move the high court opposing the dumping of garbage by Margao municipality at the Saligao SWMP.”
“As far as Calangute panchayat is concerned, the gramsabha has already adopted a resolution opposing dumping of garbage at the Saligao SWMP. Our stand is very clear,” said Sequeira.
