The perennial neglect of the Solid Waste Management Plant at Sonsodo in Margao represents the pinnacle of laissez faire management of the waste problem within the jurisdiction of the Margao Municipal Council.
Laissez faire represents the practice or doctrine of noninterference in the affairs of others, especially with reference to individual conduct or freedom of action.
But the lack of alacrity of the penultimate stakeholders pertaining to the garbage problem with which the entire city of Margao grapples with, has been one of consistent neglect and the occasional finger pointing gesture.
In considering the Sonsodo region as being a large biome of undesirable materials of both organic and inorganic nature, the impact of the secondary pollution on human beings has always been downplayed.
It is imperative that from every massive landfill would emanate a very toxic leachate consequent to the degradation of the organic material that oxidises the plastics and metals in order to create a slurry of poisonous liquid that percolate into the groundwater and even change the characteristics of the top-soil layer within the immediate vicinity of the waste management plant.
If that wasn’t enough to feel cringed about, then the foul smell emanating from the putrefaction of the garbage would be sure to elicit reactions from every person who passes by the Sonsodo landfill.
But why has it always been that the environmental sentinels fall short on their goal of environmental conservation towards a more sustainable future.
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 coupled with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 have already enabled the authorities to impose a proactive regulation upon the polluting substances entering the landfills in order to prevent the further degradation of the environment.
Despite this legislative armament being available with the government and its executive machinery, the implementation suddenly seems lacking.
This would be primarily evident from the fact that the Minister who is responsible for implementation of the waste management policy has no inclination about the final destination of the waste materials produced in the State.
The closest activity on the recycling spectrum is waste segregation, and it appears to be the only environmentally sound implementation in Goa. However, this activity is being carried out at the expense of exploiting the underpaid door-to-door garbage collector, whose tenure is dependent upon the tender awarded to the frugal contractor.
Such are the slipshod mannerisms of a Municipal Council, that no functionary would ever venture out to ascertain the life cycle of a waste material in order to better understand how its manufacture and circulation within a given jurisdiction can be regulated and curbed in order to prevent further pollution.
Plastic Bags for instance have been making a comeback with their circulation increasing consistently due to the fact that vendors and traders have found it easier to procure plastic bags with a higher micron rating as these polymers are more biodegradable. Similarly, FMCG Companies have adopted a marketing scheme which claims that their detergent is manufactured using short chain hydrocarbons that are more biodegradable. These practices and claims have the profound effect of greenwashing one’s consumer choices while being engaged in large scale consumerism.
But has it ever been specified by any authoritative agency or control body that the impact of every ounce of pollution takes years to recover from?
The Pollution Control Board for instance has been allotted a budget for the purposes of engaging in public outreach campaigns and to implement stakeholder awareness programmes, but have these funds ever been utilised in the intended nature for which they were earmarked in the first place.
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in their 2023 Report entitled: Education Policy Outlook 2023: Empowering All Learners to Go Green,
n “In 2024, education systems have a key role to play in bringing about climate mitigation and adaptation at scale. Changing individuals’ daily choices could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%.”
n Meanwhile, constructive environmental activism, such as litigation, petitioning, lobbying, boycotting, striking and protesting, can pressure governments to enact wider structural transformation.
n There is political will to foster environmental action via education but systems are prioritising efforts to create the external conditions for action over learners’ internal capacity and drive.”
According to Kulin and Sevä (2019) in their research article entitled: The Role of Government in Protecting the Environment: Quality of Government and the Translation of Normative Views about Government Responsibility into Spending Preferences, which has been published in the International Journal of Sociology:
“While it is becoming increasingly evident that environmental problems such as climate change and global warming constitute existential threats to human societies, these problems will very likely persist and even intensify unless governments enact effective and potentially costly environmental policies. However, government policies and spending ultimately rely on public support, thus underscoring the need to increase present knowledge about the processes underlying citizens’ policy attitudes.” (Kulin & Sevä, 2019)
Kulin and Sevä (2019) surmised that “this suggests that the role of government in protecting the environment stretches far beyond designing effective environmental policies, since an overall ineffective and corrupt government appears to undermine public support for critical environmental policymaking.”
Even the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution of India, Article 48A which had been inserted vide the Forty-second Amendment Act, 1976 provides that: “The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.”
It would be apt to conclude with a quote: “Reuse the past, Recycle the present, Save the future”.
