Team Herald
MARGAO: Notwithstanding its resolution to pay Fomento Green a reduced fee for tackling the garbage at present, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) during the hearing before the Principal Sessions Judge B P Deshpande on Monday, sought more time to resolve the issue and agreed to continue to pay Rs 1 lakh per day to the agency.
Initially, MMC sought one month’s time following the judge’s query, it agreed for six weeks and then facing difficulties with the next date of hearing, it was finally decided to let the present situation continue for eight weeks or rather till November 27, 2019.
A reference was made to various reports published in the media over the Sonsoddo matter. MMC lawyer S Padiyar said he was given a copy of the resolution adopted on September 27 in the court and hence, the same was not taken on record but just brought to the judge’s notice.
Representing Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Pvt Ltd, Adv G R Mallya argued that there was a need to set a time frame and pointed out that the plant needs to be shut down for about 10 days for maintenance. Mallya said the same could be done after some time.
Seeking more time, S Padiyar pointed out that the High Powered Co-ordination Committee (HPCC) set up by the government was deciding all the matters pertaining to Sonsoddo and also making all the payments.
Adv Padiyar said MMC needed time to consult the HPCC and added that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant would be contacted on Tuesday to convene an immediate meeting of the HPCC.
Responding to judge’s comment that at least by the next hearing Margao should be clean, Adv Padiyar pleaded for permission to set up another baling machine to enable MMC to bale and transport out all the excluded waste it was collecting.
Pointing out that MMC has started collecting wet waste from hotels at 11 pm, which earlier used to be dumped in the black spots, Adv Padiyar lamented that this waste starts stinking as it remains in the trucks the whole night and sought special time in the night when the waste could be transported to Sonsoddo.
He pleaded for the plant to be kept open in the night to enable MMC to deploy staff for the night shift to bale the excluded waste that they are now collecting and even offered to segregate some of the mixed waste given to Fomento Green.
However, it was decided that MMC, Fomento Green and Goa State Pollution Control Board officials would visit Sonsodo at 4 pm to discuss where and how to operate the baling machine and when to receive the wet waste from the hotels, etc.
Fomento Green that opens the plant at 9 am agreed to initially commence at 8 am and discuss with the workers and their unions to see how best MMC’s request could be abided with.
MMC Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai along with councillors Rupesh Mahatme, Lyndon Pereira, Zaffar Bhudani and Ketan Kurtarkar were present in the court.
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Don’t dump fresh waste at Sonsoddo: HC
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed Margao Municipal Council (MMC) not to dump fresh waste at the Sonsoddo dumping site.
The direction, was passed on Monday based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking removal of the waste dump at Sonsoddo in Margao. The court has stayed dumping fresh waste until the existing dump is cleared. MMC will now consult GSPCB in finding an alternative site for dumping the waste.
The PIL has been filed by Goa Foundation and Citizens for Sonsoddo, praying for a stay from the High Court on the dumping of fresh waste at the old garbage site. The petitioners also sought permanent removal of the Sonsoddo garbage waste dump, claiming it poses grave threat to the health and the environment of citizens in the vicinity.
The High Court also accepted a statement by MMC that no fresh waste will be dumped at Sonsoddo till the dump is cleared under supervision of GWMC. GWMC has submitted that the process to float a tender to clear dump is under process.
