Team Herald
PANJIM: The open forum, convened by the State government on Sunday over the proposed solid waste management plant in Bainguinim saw locals vehemently opposing the project arguing that the facility would damage the heritage sites and natural water bodies in the vicinity.
At the public hearing chaired by North Goa Collector R Menaka along with officials of the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the residents accused the government of failing to maintain 500 mtrs of buffer zone around the land acquired. Some of them even claimed that since the project was on lines with that at Industrial Unit, it should be shifted to any industrial estate. The public consultation in fact began with a verbal spat between Mayor of the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Uday Madkaikar who supported the project and the anti-Bainguinim plant lobby.
“I am here to support the project. It would be better than the existing Saligao waste management plant,” the CCP Mayor Madkaikar said amidst around 400 attendees raising their voice demanding otherwise.
The Mayor questioned the residents on the disposal of sewage and garbage from their locality while also bringing to their notice that the project is being monitored by the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which has directed to operate the facility scientifically.
“If you feel that the project is violating the High Court directions, then approach the court again or oppose it… The problem of garbage is an entire Goa issue and if it is not solved now, the future generation will suffer,” he said while giving an overview on the subject continuing since 2005.
The other CCP Corporators also questioned the locals’ silence when the land was handed over to the CCP way back in 2009. “It was acquired when there were no residential areas. The matter has not suddenly cropped up that there has to be an opposition. People were well aware that someday the waste treatment plant would come, so why is there an opposition now,” asked another Corporator.
Plant to treat ‘waste scientifically’
Corporator Rahul Lotlikar, who also extended his support to the project, maintained that the upcoming plant would scientifically treat all waste. “There is Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA), conducted by National Environment Engineering
Research Institute (NEERI) which suggested that it (Bainguinim) is perfect for setting up the plant,” he said with locals asking the pro-project group not to misguide people by spelling out only few extracts of court order and reports.
Before the commencement of the public hearing, GWMC presented the details of the project followed by Google images. Expressing concern over several points in the presentation, the locals soon began opposing the project. The Collector intervened asking the people to speak during the public hearing which soon began.
Among those opposing the project, local Silverio Dias lamented that it would severely affect the water catchment area existing since several centuries. “This catchment area also serves Panjim and the surrounding areas. Besides around 1,478 flats and houses, the lakes, wells and the natural habitat located close to the upcoming project would meet its dead end. This is a UNESCO Heritage Site and we do not want tourists to stop visiting this place only because of this plant,” he said. The local also pointed out to a school where around 800 students are pursuing their education.
He sought for a decentralised plant emphasising that people of Old Goa are not against the plant but objecting to the location.
P Mascarenhas, amongst those supporting the project, appealed to support the government cause assuring the plant would protect both environment and tourism. “The plant will cater to entire Tiswadi taluka,” she added.
Dangerous gases ‘to harm people’
NIO scientist Arvind Kumar Saran, who is also a resident in the vicinity of the proposed plant site, cautioned that dangerous gases emitting from the site would harm the people and the ecology.
“There is no ground survey done in the entire report… the draft report or the EIA report as the government calls it, has been done only for one season, whereas this study has to be done comprehensively for three seasons. The report has also been submitted after nearly three years,” he said, questioning the report’s credibility. The scientist recalled that survey was conducted when there was no human settlement but the scenario has changed now, as a result of which, correct human settlement needs to be checked.
The scientist also raised fear on the contamination of water in the village if the plant is set up.
Hrishikesh Narayan pointed out to certain irregularities such as 0 mtrs of Buffer Zone as against the actual requirement of 500 mtrs. He alleged that the people of Saligao are suffering due to the existing waste management plant. “We know what the state of segregation in Goa is. If you’ll want to treat Saligao as a benchmark for this (Bainguinim) plant, then God help us. All of us are aware people’s problem at Saligao,” he said.
“It is 0 mtr buffer zone from the residential area which is not as per the guidelines,” he said. The resident also stated that opposition is to the plant’s location.
No law and order problem
The public meeting held in the presence of huge police force did not witness any law and order situation except for verbal soar between the pro and anti project groups at a couple of occasions.
“We ensured that there is no law and order issue and we succeeded in it. The commotion which took was timely intervened and handled systematically. Overall the meeting went peacefully,” Old Goa police inspector Jivba Dalvi told Herald after the conclusion of the meeting at around 8pm.
Another local apprehended that carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide would affect the health of the people. “Why has this project been approved for residential areas when it actually should go to the industrial area?” he questioned.
The public hearing that continued for nearly nine hours could also be referred to a show of strength of the people opposing the project.
During its presentation, the GWMC officials – that would be the nodal agency for the project explained that the EIA report for the project shows that it proposes to treat waste not only from Tiswadi taluka, but also from villages in three other talukas. The 250-tonne plant could also accept waste from Sattari, Bicholim and Ponda, covering a population of close to 3.50 lakh in all.
Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate and Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, who were expected to attend the meet as per the locals, did not turn up.
