09 Jul 2020  |   05:34am IST

Joint meeting convened by Saligao p’yat resolves to oppose expansion of waste treatment plant

Local MLA, Former Calangute MLA amongst others list out the problems faced by the locals due to the existing plant and raise concerns about the issues they will face if its capacity expands
Joint meeting convened by Saligao p’yat resolves  to oppose expansion of waste treatment plant

Team Herald

Mapusa: Saligao Village panchayat resolved to write to the Chief Minister and Waste Management Minister and convey their objection to the proposed expansion of the Saligao Waste Treatment Plant.

A joint meeting was conveyed by the village panchayat Saligao on Wednesday, at the panchayat hall, to discuss the further course of action and to take the views and suggestions of locals, NGOs, MLAs and others on the expansion plans. 

The meeting was attended by Saligao MLA Jayesh Salgaonkar, panchayat members, former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes, former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira, AAP member Pradeep Padgaonkar, NGO leader Roshan Mathais, Pramanand Divkar of Calangute Citizen Forum, residents of Saligo and other people. 

During the meeting, Salgaonkar stated that the expansion of plant proposal has not found any favour with the locals who are  completely objecting to it. He reiterated that the existing plant itself is causing problems to the people of Saligao and that the plant’s expansion will lead to disaster. “Even when I was the cabinet minister, I had objected to expansion of this plant and it is on record,” he added. 

A resident of Saligao named Ashley, said that he had recently inspected the plant site, during which, he found out that fresh garbage is dumped at the site even when movement of garbage trucks in Saligao has been stopped. 

Ashlley further claimed that claimed that the trucks bypass the village of Saligao, and enter the plant through other villages. He appealed and requested the people of other villages to stop these these trucks from moving through their village roads and to stay vigilant.

Another local from Saligao recalled how the former Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar, had claimed that this plant would become one of the picnic spots in Goa. However in reality, the local pointed out that the situation today is so bad, that the amount of foul stench emanating from the plant makes it very difficult for locals to even sit and eat inside their own houses. 

Former MLA Fernandes,  opined that only agitating against the government and objecting to the plant’s expansion plans will not solve the issue.  He suggested that the only solution would be in approaching the court with fresh documentation to stop the expansion. He added that if the expansion does happen, it will be disastrous for the locals.  

“The government is trying to get European technology in Goa but European technology works only in European climate. Right now, when the plant is treating 100 tonnes, it’s causing so many issues. Later, if the plant is expanded to 250 tonnes, then one can only imagine what situation will be,” Fernandes added.

 Divkar, said, “It is a failed and outdated technology that has come to Goa and now the government wants to expand this outdated technology. This will be a disaster to Saligao and Calagute as well as the flourishing tourism industry.”

 NGO member Mathias, informed the meeting attendees that the matter is already in the court. “A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding this issue has already been filed and filing another PIL will not solve the issue but will create more confusion. Getting all the resolutions, related documents and then attaching it to he existing PIL will help strengthen it, ” he added.


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