MARGAO: To solve the problem of Margao garbage, the Directorate of Municipal Administration plans to have a decentralised facility for sorting and treatment of garbage at the source. 

The Director of Municipal Administration (DMA), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) South Goa Planning and Development Authority(SGPDA) Margao Municipal Council (MMC) and officials of Fomento at the Sonsoddo plant on Friday inspected SGPDA wholesale and retail markets and did a site assessment. The idea was to find sites for having facilities which will handle the waste generated at these markets at the same place. 

DMA Tariq Thomas, Member Secretary of GSPCB Levinson Martins, Chief Officer of MMC 

Siddhivinayak Naik, representatives from the Solid Waste Management Corporation and other officials of line departments were present throughout the inspection. 

The joint inspection started at the SGPDA retail market which produces nearly 7 tonnes of garbage -- wet, dry and highly perishable. The team has decided to have 2 separate facilities of bio-digestors for the treatment of waste generated. A facility handling of plastic may also be a part of the main plan. 

The team later visited Sonsoddo and had a look at the baling facility. They felt this facility was small and looked overloaded with waste and had only one machine for the enormous dump of waste. The officials felt the land besides the plant office could possibly house a baling area for dry waste.

Thomas said, "The garbage is coming here and it is getting difficult to handle and that is why the pile up is happening. Hence we are making a facility for decentralised facilities so that the load at the plant becomes less".

 When asked whether this in preparation of the post-termination of the Fomento agreement he said. "That discussion is independent as that discussion and resolution will take time due to the legal agreement with the MMC. However, these issues have to sort out," he said. He also said that if the plant is taken over and the load coming to the plant is reduced it can be operated more efficiently regardless of whosoever is operating the plant. 

Bailing machines for the plastic waste generated all over Margao have also been planned. The MMC is urged to tender the dry waste bailing facility wherein the MMC and has been asked to show an expression of interest for a shade at Margao industrial estate as a baling facility for dry waste. 

 The Solid Waste Management Corporation said there has to be clear cut instructions given to all who are in contact with the source of the garbage to segregate the waste. 

Thomas later approached South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha for financial aid for the projects that are being planned.