The much-talked about garbage problem at Patto started in 2007 when students and teachers in People’s High School, Hedgewar, Mushtifund, Mary Immaculate and 7th day Adventist, as also the residents of Mala and Fontainhas, started complaining of foul smell.
The intensity of smell was less in the beginning. As more trucks started dumping garbage, including wet garbage, near the anaerobic digester plant at Patto under the very nose of GSPCB, “Mother Earth”, our environmental organization, intervened.
When we visited the area in 2008, we found that the garbage disposal method was faulty and unscientific and the problem worsened when the digester plant developed technical faults.
We wrote to CCP, with copies of the letter to GSPCB and Goa Education Department, in the hope that since the health of nearly 5000 students was at stake a prompt action would follow.
We then filed a representation in the High Court on October 10, 2008, highlighting the garbage disposal problem at Patto.
On November 19, 2008 the smell emanating from the garbage was so bad that some 15 students, including two teachers of Peoples High School, fell seriously ill and an ambulance was called and the more serious were moved to GMC.
On November 17, 2008, the secretary of “Mother Earth” had led a delegation of affected students to the Chairperson of Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights with a memorandum requesting her to act in the interests of the school students. On November 22, 2008, IMA delegation visited Patto Digester Plant accompanied by President of “Mother Earth”, Dattatray Ghanekar. A delegation of doctors warned that continuous exposure to the stench could lead to vomiting, leptospirosis, diarrhea and dehydration which could even lead to death.
A letter was then addressed to AGSSTA in the hope that they will take up the cause of the students, which they did.
The High Court then passed an order on December 16, 2008 disposing off the PIL, with liberty to file an appropriate petition in case of any eventuality, after an additional affidavit had been filed by the Commissioner of CCP stating that unless and until the plant is repaired to the satisfaction of GSPCB, the plant would not be used for further disposal of waste.
“Mother Earth” hopes that CCP will have a re-look at the garbage disposal method adopted by them and also seek the advice of GSPCB to avoid a repetition of the 2008 incident.
