On deeper introspection, I have realised the folly of setting up a solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim as its closeness to the World Heritage site of Old Goa with its ornate churches in particular the Basilica de Bom Jesus as well as the iconic Sè Cathedral will definitely affect this holy city which is a tourist attraction for very discerning visitors from far and wide. Besides these two churches, other monuments such as the Santa Monica convent which houses the Museum of Christian Art as well as the St Cajetan Church among others are marvels of intricately crafted Renaissance era architectural genres, which will never be replicated again. Also the residents of Old Goa as well as neighbouring Corlim, Carambolim, St Andrè and other villages nearby are up in arms against this waste treatment plant. It is thus the duty of the North Goa MP and the MLAs of Tiswadi for whom this plant will benefit to scout for an alternate site anywhere else in Tiswadi. As long as the monuments of Old Goa with its unique old world charm exists, the Bainguinim waste treatment plant should not come up there at close vicinity. Goa does not have an efficient disaster management response force to deal with the effects of malfunctioning of the plant and also industrial depreciation of machinery is 10-15% per year, which means that the plant can be guaranteed for 10 years only at the most. We, in Panjim and Taleigao already facing incompetency of garbage collection and heavy accumulation and foul smell the on roadside is seen all over the city limits. Prudence necessitates an alternate site.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
