the goan I network
MARGAO
Just imagine a situation when as many as three screens are waiting to go into full operation to remediate the Sonsodo legacy dump, but are waiting for the Margao civic body to make available the land for the disposal of the remediated waste, including RDF, inert
and compost.
This is exactly the prevailing situation at Sonsodo when the three machines roped in to remediate the legacy dump is lying idle for want of land to dispose of the waste generated during remediation.
Even as a Margao Municipal Council delegation led by Chairperson Pooja Naik along with Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar and City fathers are scheduled to descend at Sonsodo on Thursday to review the situation after the MMC put in place CCTV surveillance cameras and a barricade at the site, all the three screens mobilised by the contractor have been lying idle at Sonsodo.
Though the Margao Municipal Council has asked the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) to dispose of the RDF at the adjoining land at Sonsodo, the Corporation has made it amply clear to the civic body that unless the MMC gives a letter to utilise the land in question, it would not be possible for the contractor to dispose of the RDF in the adjoining land.
Sources in the GWMC informed that the contractor will start the remediation exercise by operating all the three screens no sooner the MMC submits a letter to the Corporation to utilise the adjoining land for the disposal of remediated waste.
Inquiries have revealed that the Margao municipality has failed to make available suitable land in and around Margao for the disposal of the remediated waste, including RDF, inert and compost.
Though the MMC and GSUDA had identified the agricultural fields opposite the Margao railway station for the temporary storage of the remediated waste, strong protests from the farmers forced the MMC to go slow on the project. Sources have informed that the GWMC has now observed since there is no clear access to the site, it would be difficult to use this site unless clear access/road is provided.
On the GSUDA land admeasuring 1.35 lakh square metres, located opposite the district Collectorate building, DMA Dr Tariq Thomas is believed to have maintained that as of now this land is not available as there are encroachments, though it was identified as standby land.
Making matters further worse for the GWMC is GSUDA’s stand that municipal councils do not require compost generated during remediation of Sonsodo dump as enough compost is available with the respective municipal councils due to window composting by the municipal councils which is sufficient for using it for the respective municipal gardens.
To tide over the situation, the GWMC has now proposed an urgent meeting with the Department of Forest, PWD, Department of Agriculture for identifying suitable land for disposal of compost/inerts.
With the non-availability of land to dispose of inert and compost from MMC threatening to derail the remediation project, GWMC Managing Director Levinson Martins has now written to the Konkan Railway Corporation to examine his request to provide land for backfilling with inert and compost within their available property/ land.
