27 panchayats get 1 month’s time to follow directions
the goan I network
PORVORIM
Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on Monday warned that garbage from the 27 panchayats from North Goa would not be accepted at the Saligao Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP), if their garbage trucks were uncovered and not fitted with leachate tanks.
The panchayats have been given one month to fix leachate tanks to their garbage trucks, the minister added.
Lobo was interacting with sarpanchas and secretaries of the 27 panchayats at a meeting in the Saligao SWMP, after 16 trucks from different panchayats had been stopped by angry locals at Saligao on Sunday after garbage and leachate from these trucks had been spilling on the roads and causing unbearable stench.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lobo said he fully agreed with the people that trucks should be fully covered and that, leachate should not fall on the road.
“Residents of Parra, Verla-Canca and Saligao are upset about uncovered garbage trucks passing through their villages. It is for this reason I had convened a meeting with sarpanchas and secretaries of all 27 panchayats which send their waste to the plant.”
“I have advised all 27 panchayats that they should fit leachate tanks to their garbage trucks and made it clear
that garbage trucks sent uncovered will not be accepted by the plant. The panchayats have been given one month to fix the leachate tank to their garbage trucks,” said Lobo.
The minister also said programmes will be organised in all schools to create awareness among students about cleanliness and garbage disposal.
“There is complaint from Lourdes Convent at Saligao that their students can’t concentrate on studies on account of foul odour. The school has been advised to send me a message whenever they get foul smell so that I can direct the Saligao SWMP to immediately take corrective measures,” said Lobo.
Lobo explained that the Saligao SWMP was being expanded from the existing 100 tonnes to 250 tonnes at a cost of Rs 90 crore to treat garbage of 27 panchayats only from North Goa.
“Around 140 tonnes of waste is received from the 27 panchayats from North Goa at the Saligao SWMP. The tourist season has just begun and once the shacks are set up at beaches and when restaurants and hotels start their activities in full swing, this waste is bound to increase to 250 tonnes, which is why expansion of the plant is the need of the hour.”
“During expansion process, only machinery with improved technology will be installed in place of the existing machinery,” clarified Lobo.
The minister then sought to react to allegations that there were objections to the proposed garbage treatment plants at Cacora and Bainguinim.
“The plant at Cacora is being set up on an area of 1.4 lakh sq.mtrs of land and the environmental clearance has been received, while the designing of the plant is in progress. Once this is completed and an agreement is signed, construction of the garbage treatment plant of Cacora will begin.”
“Regarding the plant proposed at Bainguinim, around 250 flat owners residing in the vicinity of the site are the only ones who have raised an objection. But the plant will be set up with improved technology and hence, those people will not get any foul smel. As soon as environmental clearance is received, work on the Bainguinim plant will also start,” said Lobo.
Site for incinerator yet to be identified: Waste Mgt Minister
PORVORIM: Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo admitted that the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) was yet to identify a location to set up an incinerator in Goa.
“An incinerator is required to be installed at an isolated place. I will be leaving on a tour of Norway and Sweden shortly to study about incinerators and thereafter, a decision will be taken on setting up an incinerator in Goa to burn plastic and other dry waste,” said Lobo.
