This is an autocratic government that is trying to fool people by making statements contrary to promises made to the Saligao Communidade -- Austin Da Gama, attorney of Saligao Comunidade
My village is definitely against the plan of using the plant for treating the garbage of entire North Goa -- Eknath Oraskar, Saligao Sarpanch
Saligao communidade wants SWTP
but is against N Goa garbage
Vows to come on road if govt plans to force its way against people’s wishes
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Strongly opposing government’s plan to treat entire North Goa garbage at the upcoming Solid Waste Treatment Plant at the Calangute-Saligao plateau, the Saligao Communidade has warned to come on the road to protest against an “ill-advised” decision.
“This is an autocratic government that is trying to fool people by making statements contrary to promises made to the Saligao Communidade,” said an angry Austin Da Gama, attorney of Saligao Comunidade.
“The then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had clearly told us that the plant will cater to the garbage of only around Calangute and Saligao constituencies. We don’t understand why the current government under Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is making statements to the contrary,” Da Gama added.
The Saligao Communidade office bearers per se were not opposed to the Solid Waste Treatment Plant (SWTP) on the Calangute-Saligao plateau. They, however, were against treating of North Goa garbage at the plant.
“We are not against the plant but we oppose the plan to treat garbage of entire North Goa garbage at the plant. Saligao should not be a dumping yard,” the attorney said.
The president of the comunidade said that it had raised quite a few concerns with the government from the beginning and wanted the government to come clean on them.
“What happens to the plant in the event there is power failure? What happens if the plant seizes to operate due to some mechanical failure,” questioned Ian Da Costa, President of Saligao Comunidade.
He also said a hill was not the right place to dump garbage or even to set up a treatment plant and that the comunidade had then requested the government to look out for an alternative place.
The attorney said the government had promised to employ locals at the plant.
“We had also asked for a dedicated road to the plant. But so far we have not got any response from the government,” he said.
Saligao Sarpanch Eknath Oraskar said that personally he was not against the treatment plant.
“We were first told the plant was only for the two constituencies of Calangute and Saligao. Then it was said that it is for only coastal villages,” Oraskar said. “My village is definitely against the plan of using the plant for treating the garbage of entire North Goa,” he added.
