MARGAO: A day after Margao residents spent their evening till dinner time slugging it out with their elected representatives at the Herald – HCN Battle for Margao Debate, Herald did a rerun of the tapes to see what really Margao wants sorted and why those huge number of Madgavkars came to speak their heart out and voice their sentiments for the town they own, owe and love.
At the end of a close to three hour debate, argument and mudslinging, by upset, angry and hurt Madgavkars, there emerged four clear areas of serious concern and need for immediate action.
OUTSOURCE AND COLLECT SEGREGATED GARBAGE
People in their Margao Declaration have given the MMC a September 1 deadline to outsource the entire garbage collection activity to streamline it instead of depending on the municipal workers.
MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva didn’t commit to outsourcing while he stated that he needs to take the approval of his council on that. Similarly, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai stated that the MMC has no clue of the garbage load per day, its demarcated areas of collection, and its collection pattern.
Hence, the people demanded a detailed study of homes per ward, garbage generated per day per ward, shops, establishments and commercial units per ward and only then to come up with a blueprint of garbage collection, which should then be outsourced.
Rajeev Gomes, Margao-based people’s activist and panelist asked as to why the HC directive of having a zone or ward-based committees for garbage disposal with two citizens per committee was not implemented by the MMC since 2013, which is a contempt of court.
While another burning issue, was the failure of the MMC in door-to-door garbage collection and most importantly collecting garbage in a segregated manner and reaching it to Fomento Green at Sonsoddo. Fomento CEO Sridhar Kamat pointed out that his unit didn’t have the mandate to that and the onus lies with the MMC.
2 CAPPING OF DUMP VERSUS CARTING OF WASTE
Margao’s residents want the dump to be treated and waste carted away at all costs and not capped in its existing form.
Rashid Sousa, Sonsoddo Citizens’ Forum pointed out at the debate that its unfair that Fomento Green only after spending two years at Sonsoddo realized that lead and arsenic were found in the existing dumb despite its earlier promises of clearing the existing dump.
Souza stated, “RTIs from the Goa State Pollution Control Board clearly state only 2 out of 16 places of the existing Sonsoddo dump have lead and arsenic and hence why you talking about a 80-meter capping. Only a certain area can be capped after its characterized and majority of the garbage is treated. The people are not in favour of capping the entire dump. Minimize the dump first and then let’s discuss capping.”
Residents of Margao from Croydon Medeira to Ethel Lobo to Shriram Raiturkar questioned the government motive in the failure to clear the existing garbage and as to why is Fomento Green dumping on that dump instead of treating the waste.
Despite this issue being so serious, neither the MMC nor Nilesh Cabral representing the BJP government could commit to an immediate date of at least temporarily covering the dump with tarpaulin at a cost of Rs 8.75 lakh. D’Silva failed to give a date when it will be tendered or capped. To which the Curtorim MLA, most concerned on the issue, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, stated that maybe it will be done only by the new council post September when the people vote out the current incompetent council.
3 LEACHATE AND MARGAO’S GROUNDWATER POLLUTION
The biggest concern at the debate, on the eve of Sao Joao was the flow of leachate from the dump into the storm water drains and its subsequent contamination of wells in Maina, Curtorim, Raia, Borda and Gogol.
Jose Maria Miranda, Borda Citizens’ Forum pointed out that “Margao’s wells and water is contaminated by leachate and an epidemic will soon break loose. Who’s responsible for this health hazard? We’re not interested in the agreements. Solutions need to come out.”
Vocal and an aggressive Music Composer Siddanath Buyao said, “I live near Sonsoddo and since there’s an issue of leachate, I invite people to come and drink scotch at my place with my well water. Fomento Green is definitely ineffective at Sonsoddo. What is the capacity of this plant and how much garbage are you managing are what we should ask Fomento Green? The power consumption from the Sonsoddo unit’s power bills clearly proves the plant is operating only at 20%. An FIR should be filed against them immediately.”
While Dileep Prabhudessai, Printer & Publisher stated that, “We’re only pointing fingers with no solution. One last chance to MMC and Fomento Green with deadlines should be given.”
ARE PEOPLE THE LAST PRIORITY AS MMC-GOVT GIVE EXCUSES?
Attacking panelist Digambar Kamat, the former Chief Minister of Goa, the former Chairperson of Margao and his bête noire Savio Coutinho asserted, “Digambar never prioritized Sonsoddo, that’s Margao’s biggest burden. Digambar Kamat only prioritized that the plant be given to Fomento Green. Komex was driven away despite doing a good job and bringing the garbage dump down to the road level. Solid Waste Management Cell exists but Chairperson Arthur D’Silva is not aware which shows his incompetency.”
D’Silva, in an abject show of incompetency said that the MMC did not have funds and unless the government helps, it cannot do much. To which BJP’s Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said that one has to think of Goa and all councils are autonomous bodies and expected to raise funds. However, Cabral the GTDC Chairman said that he was willing to be the interface between the MMC and the ruling BJP government to remove pending bottlenecks in solving Margao’s waste management crisis.
We need funds to pay the workers carrying the garbage. Last week we had a meeting with GSUDA and Directorate of Municipal Administration to whom we had sent our requirements repeatedly and finally they promised to provide us with more garbage bins. Regarding the garbage at Sonsoddo, we have already sent our proposal over a year ago on capping. It is for the government to decide.
—Arthur D’Silva, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson
Facts are facts and I stand by the facts contrary to what was suggested at the debate. The treatment plant is functional and does segregate waste and all the parameters concerned. The question of less labourers doesn’t arise as it is a fully mechanised plant and fully operational. We require a landfill site and there has to be careful planning on how best to utilise the space over a period of time. Regarding the dump, once tests confirm the presence of lead, arsenic it is discarded. This is the practice the world over.
—Shridhar Kamat, Fomento Green CEO
There has to be accountability and a reporting system as far as door-to-door garbage collection is concerned. Transportation of segregated garbage has to be monitored.Regarding Sonsoddo, the high-powered committee has repeatedly raised the issue with the government.
— Digambar Kamat, Margao MLA
I have rightly stated that the urban development minister who has to take the call regarding the plan for the dump at Sonsoddo or the funds as demanded by the municipality has to be held accountable and assurances have to come from the Director of Municipal Administration as well.
— Vijai Sardesai, Fatorda MLA
Though I have criticised Fomento Green and even supported the locals who protested the hill cutting at the site, if they have an assured plan then they should be given one last chance. I can’t have people from my constituency suffer anymore by the garbage problem. Also, some of the members of the civil society crowd appear to be next Kejriwals.
— Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Curtorim MLA
If we can manage it in Curchorem, why can’t the same be replicated in Margao? Regarding Margao municipality, I can be an interface with the government if required.
— Nilesh Cabral, Curchorem MLA
GSPCB should take steps to examine the ambient air quality and water contamination, and issue appropriate orders to MMC to rectify the problem. MMC or Fomento Green should dig trenches to divert the flow of leachate or temporarily cap the dump. MMC should construct composting units for housing societies and slums to decrease costs of collection and disposal of organic waste.
— Rajeev Gomes, advocate
