PANJIM: In a major step towards resolving the long-pending issue of the Sonsoddo garbage dump, the state government on Monday decided against the scientific capping of the dump. It instead opted for the scientific closure of the dump and restoration of the land and has appointed Goa State Urban Development Authority (GSUDA) as the nodal agency. Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will be the guiding agency in the process.

The high powered coordination committee (HPCC) on Margao solid waste management that met Monday evening also decided to outsource garbage collection in Margao. It was decided that the private agency would charge each household Rs 50 per month for lifting the garbage. The agency will also be responsible for segregation and disposal of the waste.

The HPCC meeting chaired by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was attended by legislators Digambar Kamat, Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco and Vijai Sardesai, Margao Municipal Council chairperson Arthur D’Silva, officials of GSPCB, GSUDA and others. 

Refusing to disclose details, Parsekar said, “I would not like to disclose the plan. But I have appealed to all the affected parties and others to come together and work in the interest of people and the state.”

Speaking to media persons post the meeting, Lourenco said the HPCC has agreed to the GSPCB suggestion that capping will not help as this will render the land useless. “Hence government decided not to cap but to clear off the dump in a scientific manner,” he said.

Lourenco said the government has appointed GSUDA as the nodal agency to identify an alternative and clear the dump within a limited period. He said that latest by October 1, GSUDA would be ready with a detailed scientific plan on how to clear the dump and restore the land. 

“The government has also decided to outsource garbage collection in Margao. The appointed agency would be held responsible for all the garbage mess thereafter,” he said, adding “Fomento Company has agreed to take care of segregation.”

The Congress legislator said the government has offered financial support to GSUDA and MMC in the matter.

GSUDA director Elvis Gomes said that GSPCB will guide them on how to scientifically clear the dump and restore the land. “The board will provide all the technical support,” he said. 

D’Silva and Kamat said they were satisfied with the decision and hope the solution will work at its best.

In January 2012, MMC at a special meeting had given its nod for capping Sonsoddo in a scientific manner as recommended by solid waste management consultant P U Asnani. The capping of the garbage dump was necessitated as soil testing of samples from the dump, conducted by an independent laboratory, had confirmed the presence of toxic metals. The proposal for scientific closure of Sonsoddo on the lines of the Gorai dumping ground, Mumbai, was initially mooted by Fomento, who was the concessionaire for the solid waste management plant.