SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: The expansion of the Saligao Waste treatment Plant is in the eye of storm with the villagers, politicians and activists showing a red flag to the government’s plans.
The issue has also led to a political slugfest between the two former friends, Goa Forward MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar and Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo.
In Saligao, local MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar is in the forefront opposing the move of the government stating that the government wants to make the village a dumping site.
Not only this, he has also flayed Lobo for going ahead with the move to expand the plant.
Interestingly, the State Cabinet in February this year had also approved the enhancement of the solid waste management facility (SWMF) at Saligao to upto 250 tonnes per day which can be expanded to 300 tonnes per day.
Surprisingly, Jayesh who is now opposing the plant was a part of the State Cabinet then.
On the other hand Lobo, has stood his ground for going ahead with the expansion stating it will help getting rid of the stench, which is affecting the village.
What is interesting is that Lobo was totally against the move then and even criticised the then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar for taking up the extension of the plant. However, after the change in political equation – the three GFP ministers, including Jayesh were dropped from the Cabinet and Lobo has been given a berth their views and opinions also changed.
Speaking to Herald, Lobo clarified that he was earlier against the plant as the then government did not make any move to start the process of acquiring new plants at Cacora and Bainguinim.
“Yes, I was very much against the Cabinet decision then and I expressed my sentiments straight to the then CM Parrikar directly because they made no efforts to start the process of Cacora and Bainguinim plants,” Lobo said.
He said that the then CM also agreed that Bainguinim and Cacora also need to start.
“I was very clear that Saligao cannot be made dumping yard, the people in the vicinity including my constituency of Saipem and Candolim are affected with the stench,” he said.
He continued, “But now, things have changed and we have started the process of Baingunim and Cacora. We have also got EIA and EC from the State Environment Impact Assessment Committee (SEIAC).”
Similarly, he said Cacora plant’s work order is in final stages.
Clarifying his stand, Jayesh Salgaonkar said, he had also made his opinion known to the CM then itself.
“Those days Parrikar was seriously ill and most of things of Cabinet were cleared by circulation and when this issue came up, I had expressed my resentment to Parrikar. Lobo is on record saying that I had opposed the move,” Jayesh told Herald.
He said “I was clear then and I am clear now. Nobody can say I supported the move then.”
The cost of expansion estimated in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is Rs 82.15 crore, which includes installation and commissioning of major machinery like plastic removal system, grit removal system, organic extruder press and buffer tank for organic waste.
