MARGAO
While disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Citizens for Sonsodo on March 12, 2024, a bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, comprising Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes, strongly underscored the urgent need to set up a 15 tonnes-per-day (TPD) bio-methanation facility at the Sonsodo waste treatment site.
The court had taken a firm stance, emphasising that the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC), chaired by the Chief Minister, must act without delay. It directed the committee to promptly deliberate and issue necessary instructions to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) regarding the proposed plant.
“Insofar as the balance work ” including repairs to various equipment, establishment of a 15 TPD bio-methanation plant at the Sonsodo site, and operationalisation of a 5 TPD bio-methanation facility near the SGPDA market in Margao ” is concerned, the Advocate General stated that the High Powered Committee would meet and take a decision on these issues. Accordingly, we expect the HPC to address these matters as soon as possible and issue necessary directions to the GWMC and the MMC,” the court had observed.
The bench had further directed the Margao Municipal Council to file a status report or affidavit on the matter by July 5, 2024, indicating the urgency attached to the issue.
However, despite the High Court’s explicit expectations, sources indicate that the HPCC has not convened even once since the order was passed to decide on the proposed bio-methanation plant. The apparent inaction has raised concerns among citizens and environmental groups, particularly given the persistent waste management challenges at Sonsodo, which have long been a point of contention in Margao.
