The Saligao waste treatment plant, perched on a hillock, has long supported Goa’s fragile waste management system. Though running beyond its safe capacity, it has continued to operate for nine years. The recent demand for land to create a buffer zone, however, highlights poor planning and inadequate foresight.
A thorough environmental assessment is now essential, examining air quality, soil health, terrain, and biodiversity. Equally important is evaluating whether the plant’s current load exceeds its original design.
Without clear standard operating procedures, the village’s heritage and future remain at risk. Authorities must define the purpose of a buffer zone and consider modern engineering solutions that can be integrated into existing systems.
These must be implemented swiftly to reduce or eliminate the need for a buffer, and to prevent it from being misused as a dumping or storage ground—an outcome disastrous to Saligao’s social and environmental fabric.
