Team Herald 

Porvorim: The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed a healthy discussion to work out ways and means to get rid of perennial Sonsoddo garbage dump, with government identifying non-segregation of waste dump at the site as the biggest reason for the growth of the dump. Government informed House about clearing of the earlier mound by 20 percent using bio-remediation method. 

Congress Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro raised the question with regards to government failure to clear the Sonsoddo dump and the steps it intends to initiate in future. He pointed out that despite spending Rs 15 crore, as specified by the government, the garbage problem continue to increase and it has turned into a major health hazard for the people living in and around the site. 

“As per government record, it has spent Rs 15 crore to clear the dump. But we see no result. The dump is increasing every day. I want to know the technology that government has identify to clear the dump,” Faleiro said while demanding that government should immediately considering setting up a garbage treatment plant to handle waste from South Goa like that at Saligao. 

Congress MLA questioned government seriousness towards the issue and sought to know as by when the facility would be put in place to clear the dump. He also informed that garbage if treated properly can be used to generate gas, electricity, etc. 

Replying to it, Minister for Urban Development Milind Naik said that non-segregation of waste at source is the biggest worry and reason for the dump to escalate. “We are very much serious towards resolving the issue. We have already identified a technology and land admeasuring 50,000 sq mtrs in Verna to put a treatment plant,” he said. 

Minister also said that he will call for a joint meeting of concerned MLAs from South Goa to discuss on the matter. 

Earlier, Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijai Sardesai said that government last year managed to clear 20 percent of the mound by using bio-remediation. “Government has not neglected Sonsoddo at all. In fact, when the coalition government was elected, its first press conference by me and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was held at Sonsoddo dump,” he said. 

Sardesai said the new non segregated garbage dump is what has aggravated the situation.