Team Herald
CANDOLIM: The Candolim Residents and Consumer Forum has complained to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and various other authorities alleging that the foul smell emanating from the garbage plant at Saligao has become unbearable once again and demand a solution to the same.
Copies of the complaint has been submitted to the office of the chief minister and chief secretary, Saligao and Candolim panchayat, Primary Health Centre at Candolim, bio diversity committee of Candolim and Saligao and Goa Waste Management Corporation at Saligao.
The letter states that the residents of Candolim and the surrounding area are experiencing strong uncomfortable foul garbage smell around 11 pm onwards emitting from the Goa Waste Management Corporation at Saligao. They also fear that if this is left unattended or unmanaged it would soon lead to the spread of an epidemic.
According to the consent given to operate the plant by the Pollution Control Board, there should be no discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matters into a stream, well, land or into the atmosphere polluting water or air. Since in this case the air is being polluted, the forum has requested the GSPCB to conduct proper tests of air pollution as per the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and other laws which are in force regarding the matter.
A Candolim local and member of Goencho Avaaz, Roshan Mathias told Herald that there was foul smell coming from the Saligao plant which had now become unbearable. The plant operators cannot handle the existing waste coming into this plant and there is an attempt to increase its capacity.
“Although we are at a four kilometers radius from the plant the smell feels like few meters away. There is a fear of an epidemic if things go on at this rate. The sad part is that, neither the plant management nor the government has any way of measuring the odour created by this plant. At the same time there is a possibility of a huge scam. Garbage from private establishments or business which is not within the jurisdiction is also entering this plant through these registered trucks,” he local.
He also alleged that garbage is being cleverly transferred into these registered trucks for monetary gains and personal favours.
The members of the Pilerne Citizen Forum and Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) will be meeting the Chairman or Member Secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board in regards with the same issue shortly.
