the goan I network
PANAJI
South Goa Collector Ajit Roy, IAS, has been put in-charge of the effort to control the fire and smoke billowing from the open garbage dump at Sonsoddo and coordinate between various agencies handling the disaster after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his official Altinho bungalow Friday evening.
Roy, who was shifted as Collector of South Goa just before the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-election, has also been asked to set up a “control centre” at the site where he will be assisted by the Principal Chief Engineer of PWD, Uttam Parsekar, and officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Besides Sawant, the high-powered meeting held exclusively to review the effort to fight the burning garbage dump was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Curtorim MLA Reginald Lourenco, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Babita Angle Prabhudesai and top officials of government departments involved in the operations at Sonsodo.
Mumbai fire chief, Dr Prabhat Rahandale, who is also Maharashtra’s director of fire services, also attended the meeting and has advised use of a mix of mud/construction debris and water to fight the fire.
Rahandale, who earlier in the day surveyed the blaze at Sonsodo using drones, has proffered the advice that the only way to control the fire and put it out is to immediately use mud or rubble and construction site debris intermittently with water.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement that Sawant has directed a co-ordinated effort from the agencies involved at the site including the Fire
and Emergency Services, PWD, MMC and the Health department.
The garbage dump at Sonsodo on the outskirts of Margao city has been emitting toxic smoke due to the fire which broke out on Monday last.
Government agencies and personnel have been
struggling to fight the blaze since then.
Also in attendance at the meeting held at Sawant’s official residence at Altinho were officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board which on Thursday had put the MMC on notice after residents in the surrounding areas had complained of being affected by the smoke.
A representative of the defence establishment in Goa, which collaborates in disaster management with the local administration, also attended the meeting.
