MARGAO: While there is no timeline in sight for the proposed exercise of scientific capping of the garbage dump at Sonsoddo to commence, residents in the vicinity have complained that the leachate has already started flowing onto the road. Locals fear that the situation will worsen once the monsoon begins.
Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson Arthur D’Silva criticized the civic body for delaying the matter and questioned if the council was planning on completing covering the garbage dump with tarpaulin sheets after the rains begin. D’Silva has convened a meeting on Friday to fast track the matter.
D’Silva, who was elected as chairperson on Tuesday, praised the citizen Sonsoddo initiative by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco for carrying out pre-monsoon work near the dump site.
During the last monsoon, locals had complained that the leachate flowed down the slope and near their residential complexes creating an unhygienic situation besides the unbearable stench. MMC chief officer Naveen S L stated that the capping process is underway and would be completed shortly.
Members of the high powered committee, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, have said that if the capping cannot be completed before the rains, the government should ensure that the compound wall is in proper shape given that it had collapsed earlier to ensure that the dump or leachate does not spill onto the road.
Scientific capping to cost Rs 7.6 cr
The issue of the tarpaulin cover aside, it appears that the much-delayed scientific capping process has been kept on hold due to funds crunch for the project. A source pointed out MMC is relying on government funds for the same.
K R Gopalkrishnan, the consultant appointed by MMC for the proposed scientific capping, had submitted his final detailed project report (DPR) to the MMC. As per the DPR, the scientific closure of the garbage dump will cost Rs 7.6 crore, while the operational and maintenance cost of the capping will cost another Rs 5.7 lakh a year. The capping exercise envisages levelling and reforming the existing dump by incorporating environmental mitigation measures.
The project will require permissions from the GSPCB. Environment Minister Alina Saldanha has raised objections to capping as the final solution. She and GSPCB feel that the land would be lost if MMC goes ahead with the capping exercise.
GSPCB has asked MMC to assess the cost benefits of scientific capping of the Sonsoddo site and sorting of waste using trammels. Experts point out that with the presence of arsenic, lead and other heavy chemicals in the dump, segregation of waste is not feasible and that the only alternative is to create another landfill site elsewhere.
