Sonsodo dump set for green makeover

Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane planting a sapling at Sonsodo on World Environment Day.

MARGAO
Sonsodo’s landscape is set for a major transformation in the coming months, with Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane announcing an ambitious plan to develop a garden at the former waste dumping site at an estimated cost of Rs 5-6 crore.

Rane unveiled the proposal on the occasion of World Environment Day during a programme held at Sonsodo on Friday. Expressing confidence in the project’s timely completion, the minister even remarked that Margao MLA and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat would inaugurate the garden before the next Assembly elections.

The tree plantation drive at Sonsodo was jointly organised by the Forest Department, the Urban Development Department—both headed by Rane—and the Margao Municipal Council as part of World Environment Day celebrations.

“Last year, we implemented the Urban Forestry project at Sonsodo in collaboration with the Forest Department. The saplings planted under the initiative have grown significantly over the past few months. We are now taking the project a step further,” Rane said.

According to the minister, a portion of the Sonsodo site will be converted into a landscaped garden by the Forest Department. “Once completed, the garden will not only accelerate the transformation of Sonsodo but will also provide residents of Margao and nearby areas with a new space for recreation and leisure,” he added.

The proposed garden project comes less than a year after the launch of the Urban Forestry initiative on Margao Municipal Council land at Sonsodo. Rane said the visible improvements at the site have already begun changing public perceptions.

“The day is not far away when Sonsodo will no longer be remembered for its stench and garbage. People are already witnessing a remarkable change at the site,” he said.

Rane further disclosed that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) will appoint a consultant to prepare the garden’s design, following which the project will be executed by the Forest Department.

Addressing the gathering, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat recalled the criticism he had faced over the years because of the persistent waste management issues at Sonsodo. “The Urban Forestry project has already brought about a noticeable change at Sonsodo. The proposed garden will further transform the area into a destination for leisure and recreation,” Kamat said.