MAPUSA
Saligao panchayat has strongly objected against transportation of the Sonsodo waste for treatment at the solid waste treatment plant in the village even as other panchayats surrounding the plant are gearing up to oppose the move.
Saligao Sarpanch, Lucas Remedios has shot a letter to the Managing Director of the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) questioning the department’s decision to allow waste of Sonsodo to be treated at the Saligao treatment plant on a daily basis.
“On behalf of the villagers of Saligao I strongly object transportation of any waste from Sonsodo to Saligao waste management plant as our villagers are suffering a lot of problems because of foul smell and transportation of vehicles laden with waste to the treatment plant,” Remedios said.
With the situation at the Sonsodo garbage site turning grim, the Margao Municipal Council recently decided to transport its wet waste to the Saligao waste treatment facility.
Meanwhile, a belligerent Saligao Sarpanch has threatened to call for a special gram sabha to discuss the issue and even drum up support from surrounding villages against the move.
“We do not want any garbage from Margao in our village. Saligao is suffering because of this waste treatment plant that is set up here. The whole village will erupt and we will also call upon our neighbouring villages against the move,” the sarpanch told The Goan.
Incidentally, the GWMC had given the nod to the Margao civic body to transport 10 tonnes of wet waste to the Saligao facility some time ago.
The authorities are aware that transporting wet waste by road comes with its own set of problems and are therefore making plans to make the transportation full-proof especially to avoid foul smell and leaking of the leachate.
Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira has said people in the village have been facing a lot of problems as of now and with waste from Sonsoddo being brought to Saligao for treatment will further aggravate the problem.
“The people managing the Saligao waste treatment plant are grappling with treating the present waste. I don’t understand how they will manage waste from Sonsodo. Our wells in Gauravaddo, Calangute are polluted because of the treatment plant,” Sequeira said.
He said the Calangute villagers will not remain silent spectators against the move of transporting Sonsodo waste to Saligao.
