the goan I network
PANAJI
A day after the massive fire at the Taleigao Garbage Dump which took firefighters an entire evening to put out, around 15 residents from the area met up with the Taleigao Sarpanch Janu Rosario and MLA Jennifer Monserrate to discuss ways in which to prevent situations like this in future.
At the meeting which lasted around an hour and a half, it was decided that residents from all over Taleigao and Dona Paula would help the Panchayat in the segregation of garbage, and form a committee to assist in the same.
Speaking to “The Goan”, a resident from the area Mike Smith explained that a lot of work needed to be done to segregate the waste, as recyclable plastic was being dumped with single-use plastic at the garbage site. When asked if the fire had been put out completely, Smith said that while there was still smoke at the site, it appeared as though the fire had been put out. He said that a JCB vehicle came in on Wednesday to clear the debris at the site.
In order to find a permanent solution to the problem, and to ensure that no fires break out, or are set to the garbage in future, Smith said that Monserrate had agreed to set up a face-to-face meeting of the residents along with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, and an official from the Pollution Control Board. Next week, a meeting has been fixed with Monserrate where Smith, in consultation with other residents, will present an action plan of what the residents want.
The situation at the Taleigao garbage dump had aggravated on Monday and Tuesday with the fire inside the dump spreading rapidly, and emanating thick black smoke that spread over more than a kilometer. Unable to bear the toxic gas, residents of Adwalpalkar Horizon Residences called up the Fire Brigade which could not however put out the flames for hours.
The smoke on Tuesday reached the premises of the Goa University. Police personnel were deployed to divert the traffic, as it was impossible to see through the thick layer of smog that enveloped the road that connects Taleigao and Dona Paula.
MLA Monserrate who was at the site with the affected residents confirmed to “The Goan” that the fire had spread below the garbage, so it was difficult to put it out. “The fire has spread due to strong winds which are carrying the smoke even farther,” she said.
Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) Sharmila Monteiro told “The Goan” that the panchayat would be charged penalty fees for the excessive pollution.
