The Garbage Treatment Plant at Saligao was inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on May 30 last year. The state of the art facility opening coincided with the Goa Statehood Day.
Despite the plant being just a few metres away, one sees garbage strewn beside the roadside at the Saligao slope. There is even a notice installed at the site which reads “DO NOT DUMP YOUR GARBAGE HERE; DUMPING GROUND ONLY 900 METERS AWAY, THANK YOU; by order”
We are at loss of words to guess from whom the order comes. But any person with a little common sense (also who knows to read English), and also has some civic sense, will understand what is written on the board.
But who cares. The notice might be for the foxes and not for the civilized people, since one notices dogs (during the day) and wild animals feasting on the garbage by night.
I think people go by the habit. If they see any garbage anywhere they tend to add their own to the dirt already piled up. This is seen around many places in Goa. But one cannot understand how the panchayat which collects garbage from the village of Saligao does not notice the dirt lying in the vicinity of the garbage treatment plant.
The authorities at the Hindustan Waste Treatment Private Limited have claimed that the plant is generating 4000 units of electricity a day. They have stated that they are now ready to supply the power to the Electricity Department. It is also reported that due to the good response from panchayats in the coastal belt and the surrounding villages, the plant is accepting around 120-125 tonnes on a daily basis.
However, the garbage on the Saligao slope is still a mystery. Obviously the area falls under the Saligao panchayat and they have the responsibility of clearing the area of the dumped garbage. Is the Election Code of Conduct applicable to the authorities? Or are they waiting for the panchayat elections to be announced so that those in power get a chance to make a point by cleaning the area during their campaigning for the seat of sarpanch or panchas? Only time will tell.
