the goan I network
MARGAO
With the Goa State Pollution Control Board defaulting in submitting the report on the nature of waste inside the Sonsodo waste treatment plant, the South Goa district Court on Tuesday issued fresh directions to the GSPCB to submit the report within a week’s time.
Taking cognizance of the failure of the GSPCB to submit the report on the nature of the waste on the last two dates of hearing, District Judge B P Deshpande directed that a letter be sent to the Pollution Control Board to submit the report within a week’s time.
Judge Deshpande issued the fresh direction to the GSPCB after Margao Municipal senior legal counsel Adv S Padiyar submitted before the Court that he had personally discussed the matter with GSPCB Member Secretary and had impressed upon the officer to comply with the court directions, but in vain.
The district Court also told the MMC legal counsel to place on record before the Court the Request for Proposal (RFP) and also the minutes of the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC) meetings held in the past within three days.
The judge issued the direction after the municipal lawyer drew the attention of the Court that some aspects of RFP relied on by the Concessionaire differs from the original proposal. He also submitted that while the Concessionaire has relied on the minutes of the initial meeting of the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC), minutes of the subsequent meetings of the HPCC have not been referred by the Concessionaire.
On the question of accepting segregated waste inside the Fomento-run plant at Sonsodo, Judge Deshpande said the existing arrangement, wherein the MMC will pay Rs one lakh to Fomento per day in lieu of treatment of the waste will continue till further orders.
Meanwhile, the MMC counsel made a statement before the Court that the Civic body has cleared all the payments due to Fomento as on today.
Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar, who was present in the courtroom along with chairperson Pooja Naik, produced a document to show that the civic body has cleared the amount of Rs 25 lakh due to Fomento in lieu of treatment of municipal waste at the plant.
The court will now resume hearing of the arbitration application on February 6.
