the goan I network
MARGAO
The raging Sonsodo fire virtually brought Deputy Chief Minister and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and his Curtorim counterpart Reginaldo Lourenco face to face on Wednesday near the site.
If Sardesai maintained that he has inherited the Sonsodo issue from the Congress government, Reginaldo hit back at the Deputy CM by insisting that the Sonsodo dump has doubled since the last two years after the coalition government came to power two years ago.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Girish Chodankar also descended on the site to take stock of the situation, demanding that the government intervene and immediately cap the smoke emanating from the dump.
The Deputy CM took a dig at the Congress in retaliation to Reginaldo’s statement made a day ago stating the Goa Forward, which often claims credit for anything and everything, will also take credit for the Sonsodo fire. “Reginaldo should know that I have inherited this problem from the Congress, but we are trying to work out a solution,” he added.
Taking exception to the statement, Reginaldo virtually demanded to know how the dump height has doubled during the last two years during the coalition government’s tenure. “I want to know how the site could not be cleared of the waste even after spending Rs 10-15 crore by the ruling dispensation,” he said.
“I have not come here to do politics. And, I want to state that no one should indulge in politics. I am with the government on this disaster. I spoke to Chief Minster Pramod Sawant to take steps to resolve the issue,” Reginaldo said, while saying people would file a petition before the National Green Tribunal to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar said the government should contain the smoke emanating from the dump on a priority basis. He also spoke to the
District Collector South Ajit Roy over the phone and stressed that the administration should look out for expertise to solve the smoke issue affecting the health of the citizens.
