MARCOS GONSALVES
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MARGAO: In the very robust social media space as well as on traditional .discussion forums, analysing the promises and delivery of the civic body managing Goa’s commercial capital never stops.
We have yet another elected MMC council which has inherited a bagggae of old problems, prominent & permanent among them being the perennial stink bomb- Sonsoddo.
But Chairperson Lyndon Pereira has a big challenge, full of problems in order to resolve the burning garbage issue especially Sonsoddo dump, despite success in the first obstacle faced pertaining to the inert dumping issue at Kadamba Bus Stand, Margao.
A few days back Chairperson Pereira had to face the first challenge as few citizens objected to the MMC’s move to dump the inert behind the KTC bus stand, resulting in work was stopped. Later on, the Chairperson succeeded in convincing citizens.
“Yes, initially, we had objected to the inert dump on the land behind the KTC bus stand. However, Chairperson has assured us that the insert will be covered by mud”, said Nitin Nagvekar, citizen of Fatorda.
He also informed that Lyndon will be meeting concerned citizens to further discuss the issue.
The Chaiperson said that few have an apprehension that inert dump will create menace in the locality.
“Actually, the land belongs to KTC and they have no objection to the inert dump. As an MMC, our duty is to identify the land and hand it over to Solid Waste Management”, he added.
Speaking to Herald citizens of Fatorda and Margao, besides few councillors also said that they will closely monitor the activities of the new Chairperson but at the same time they are of the opinion that 15 months term is like fifteen days and the garbage issue of Sonsodo has a legacy of several decades, and hence it will be a big task for new chairperson and alliance leaders.
It must be noted that at the moment the work pertaining to the bio-remediation of the Sonsodo legacy dump is in progress. The new Council, is waiting for their first meeting to discuss this burning issue of waste collection and disposal.
Bio methanation proposal led to a bitter political fallout
It may be recalled that after a high political drama, especially at the time of the fire incident at Sonsoddo dump, the last council had pushed a proposal for waste disposal via bio-methanation. Unfortunately, that proposal was ended in a bitter row over the project cost and apprehensions over the bio-methanation technology
Newly elected Chairperson Lyndon Pereira is on record that his first priority will be of resolving the garbage issue. The first step towards this civic body is intending to clear the legacy dump at Sonsodo. Chairperson wants to remove inert from the dump before the rain.
He further said that the Sonsoddo dump is a big issue and the new civic body will try to resolve it on a priority basis. “Issue pertaining to Sonsoddo dump will be resolved taking into consideration the views and suggestions of the concerned MLAs such as Vijai Sardesai, Digambar Kamat, and also Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco”, said Lyndon.
Impossible to resolve sonsoddo easily: BJP Councillor
According to the BJP councillor Camilo Barretto, it is impossible to resolve the issue of the Sonsoddo dump so easily.
“All past councils have failed to resolve the issue and the new chairperson will have a tough time in handling this. It cannot be resolved just like that, as it needs an expert’s view. Therefore, first and foremost thing new chairperson should appoint a committee consisting of experts”, he suggested.
He also said that all, including the MLAs of Fatorda and Margao, have failed in resolving the garbage issue in the past.
Paresh Naik from Fatorda said citizens have high expectations from this new council. “More especially the burning and sensitive issue of garbage needs to be resolve at earliest, without any politics and it, will be a big challenge to the newly elected chairperson. Now, it all depends on how the chairperson takes it forward”, he said.
He also said that people of Fatorda are tired of discussing and urging to resolve the issue of garbage and more especially on Sonsodo issue. And hence, now it’s time to act for the new chairperson.
Former Chairperson Savio Coutinho said, “Sonsoddo issue is not a big problem if there is a strong will. Ever since the so-called Bio Remediation work (practically it is an only screening of waste) had commenced nearly two years back, we have only heard of “percentages of work completed”, he stated.
He said that if one goes by the latest version of the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) that 70% of Bio Remediation being completed then does the balance mountain of the legacy dump only 30%?.
That’s Sonsoddo. With morequestions than answers.
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A diary of ‘To Do’ points for new city fathers
Newly elected Chairperson Lyndon Pereira and his team have other sensitive issues such as revenue mobilisation, parking, stray dogs menace, Municipal administration, etc, to handle, besides garbage.
It may be noted that Madgaonkars and Fatordekars are facing lots of hardships with regard to all the above mentions issues. To date, all the efforts of the civic body and also of past Chief Officers have failed in resolving or finding solutions to the issues.
According to the complaints of citizens, the municipal administration is still not people-friendly and all are very much upset with regard to the functioning of the administration. Besides, MMC has failed to resolve the parking chaos for a few years..
The new Chairperson has addressed all these issues in his first briefing to the media on May 27 and hence people are now anxiously waiting for better Margao and Fatorda in the coming days.
The proof of the pudding is delivery, not dialogue.
