MARGAO
A slew of High Court directions aimed at bringing about a turnaround at Sonsodo, Margao Municipal garbage dumping yard, seemed finally showing results on the ground.
Thanks to the High Court, citizens may soon be able to breath fresh air free from stink and odour emanating from Sonsodo.
Consider this. Perhaps for the first time in the last one year since he descended at Sonsodo after embracing the BJP in September last year, Cong-turned-Margao MLA Digambar Kamat made his presence felt at the waste dumping site sans a face mask.
Reason: When Kamat descended at Sonsodo to inaugurate the two vehicles costing Rs 70 lakhs on Wednesday, Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar requested the MLA not to wear the face mask, saying the environment at the Sonsodo is now better off compared to the stinking situation a year ago.
Indeed, thanks to the High Court’s host of directions, the Margao MLA not only inaugurated the two vehicles sans a face mask, but interacted with his Councillors as well as the media without wearing the face mask. “The ground situation at Sonsodo is changing for the better. I am not wearing the face mask today because I found that the odour has disappeared from the site. This is a good sign and many more developments will take place at Sonsodo in the coming days”, he said.
Kamat added: “On the anvil is the remediation of the thousands of metric tons of matured waste lying inside the Sonsodo waste management shed. The Power department is also on the job to install the power transformer. I am also told that work on the installation of fire hydrants and fire safety equipment at Sonsodo is underway”.
Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar echoed similar sentiments. “When the Margao MLA’s vehicle reached Sonsodo, I and the Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar decided to tell Kamat not to wear the face mask since the stink and foul odour has disappeared”, he said.
In fact, the MMC Chairperson told the media that the residents of neighbouring locality has asked him how come the stink and smell has suddenly abated from the Sonsodo waste dumping site.
“I have replied to the residents saying the measures adopted by the Margao Municipality has finally begun to show results”, he said.
The MMC Chairperson said the purchase of the two vehicles at a cost of Rs 70 lakh will help the transportation of garbage to the Saligao waste treatment and within the city,. “He said the civic body will make a proposal to the government towards the purchase of another three trucks as requested by the Margao MLA”, Damu added.
The Margao Municipal Council had come under the High Court scanner in the PIL filed by the Citizens for Sonsodo through its secretary Roque Mascarenhas for its abject failure to treat the daily waste generated in the commercial capital. Not only was the civic body pulled up by the High Court, but the South Goa district Collector Asvin Chandru was once directed by the Court to inspect the Sonsodo waste dump and report back to the Court in a day’s time.
