Team Herald
MARGAO: A group of concerned citizens from Margao has refuted Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s recent claim that the Sonsoddo waste management issue has been resolved, calling the statement misleading and based on “false inputs” from local political leaders.
“The Chief Minister’s statement appears to be based on misleading information provided by political leaders in Margao, who seem more interested in earning praise for
doing nothing than addressing the real issues,” said activist and former MMC chief Savio
Coutinho.
The CM had made the statement just a day earlier, declaring that the Sonsoddo waste problem had been resolved. However, citizens say the reality on the ground paints a very different picture.
Coutinho alleged that the Chief Minister may not have even visited the site recently to assess the situation firsthand. He stressed that the partial clearing of legacy waste at Sonsoddo was not a political accomplishment but a result of the High Court’s intervention.
“While political leaders try to put words in the Chief Minister’s mouth, the reality is that it was the High Court’s directive that forced action at Sonsoddo,” he added.
Echoing these concerns,
Pooja Dessai, a resident, pointed to several unresolved issues. “Dry waste continues to mysteriously catch fire almost every week. Garden waste is piling up with no disposal mechanism in place, and wet waste is being transported to the Cacora plant, adding an unnecessary financial burden,” she said.
Residents also expressed frustration with what they described as “false narratives” being pushed by the ruling BJP and local leaders.
“It’s baffling how they try to take credit when nothing meaningful is happening at Sonsoddo,” said Custodio Fernandes, a Margao local. He added that apart from dry waste segregation, there is little to no activity at the site. “Most of the waste is simply being sent to Cacora. Sonsoddo remains neglected, and there’s still no permanent solution for the leachate flowing onto the road,” he said.
Residents say the situation calls for real, transparent, and sustained action—rather than political grandstanding—to address Margao’s long-standing garbage crisis.