MARGAO: The Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) has appealed to the High Court (HC) to appoint an independent commissioner who can provide an accurate and unbiased assessment of the waste management system implemented by the Margao Municipal Council (MMC).
Expressing strong condemnation towards the MMC and other authorities for their repeated failures in fulfilling assurances made to the High Court, the SCM emphasized that it is high time for the court to recognize that these ‘unconcerned’ authorities are merely wasting its valuable time by submitting false reports. The actual situation at Sonsoddo, the landfill site, starkly contrasts with the rosy picture painted on paper for the HC, alleges SCM. Savio Coutinho, Convenor of the SCM, declared, “We, along with the concerned citizens of Margao and Fatorda, have repeatedly attempted to bring the true facts before the High Court. Unfortunately, the court seems to have been deliberately misled.”
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Coutinho continued, “The Council often claims that the High Court is closely monitoring waste management activities. However, such statements are conveniently made when they want to push forward their deceitful agenda. We exposed the door-to-door waste collection scam, which led to the accumulation of mixed waste at Sonsoddo, rendering it unprocessable.” He further revealed, “We even offered assistance to the Council for the remediation of the accumulated waste, at a significantly lower cost to the public. However, for their own vested interests, they prefer to engage in lucrative tenders. Since June 2020, the Council has already spent a staggering Rs 86 lakhs and Rs 3.37 crores on remediation work for the so-called segregated waste collected by waste collection agencies. Now, another Rs 4 crores is expected to be squandered on yet another remediation project.”The SCM accused the authorities of intentionally creating emergency situations to expedite their dubious expenditure schemes, sidestepping proper procedures, and awarding contracts to handpicked contractors who will serve their own interests.
“Hoping that the High Court takes a serious stance on the issue at Sonsoddo, the SCM implores the court to avoid an endless legal battle that would only waste valuable time,” said Coutinho.
