PANAJI
“This is the first of its kind plant that the State has seen. A proper time to evaluate it would be roughly one month after it begins operations,” Clinton Vaz an environmental campaigner said.
He said while initially it appears that the plant should run smoothly, there are several issues that could crop up during its functioning.
“Firstly, there is only one line of operation. This means that even if there is a hold up towards the end of the line, the whole process will stop. I spoke to officials and they have assured that the chances of anything failing are very slim,” Vaz told The Goan, adding however that in the event something happens there will be no alternative but to stall the entire process.
He also said that as with all mixed waste treatment plants across the world, it leaves very little scope for recycling. “Even if there is recyclable stuff like plastic and glass that is fed into the machine, it will end up unrecyclable,” he said adding that recyclable plastic ends up getting baled and glass ends up as landfill waste.
He, however, said that it was a well designed plant and it showed promise that a solution to Goa’s garbage problem is in sight.
Goa Foundation secretary Claude Alvares said that unless a scientifically set up landfill is in place the plant cannot start.
“When I last visited the plant there was no landfill. Maybe there is one now. In any case, if there is a violation on any of the conditions mandated by the National Green Tribunal we will approach the NGT and seek relief,” Alvares said.
The Saligao Civic and Consumer Forum had approached the National Green Tribunal to shift the garbage treatment plant to a safer, alternate site, just 700 meters away since “dangerous projects should never be located in eco-sensitive zones like hill-tops and plateaus.”
They also sought a dedicated approach road to the plant, instead of garbage trucks passing through the densely populated areas of Saligao as well as to completely clean up the present dump site.
Two nominees of the Saligao Civic and Consumer Forum are entitled to visit the plant every month to ensure the local community that the plant is being run and operated as per guidelines.
