PANJIM: In an effort to mount pressure on the State Government, the Congress Party has once again sought Governor Satya Pal Malik’s intervention to stop the proposed expansion of Saligao Solid Waste Management Plant in view of the strong objection raised by people of Saligao and surrounding villages.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) General Secretaries Agnelo Fernandes and Adv Yatish Naik in a memorandum submitted to the Governor on July 8, have also demanded that government be directed to limit the operation of the plant only to the villages comprising of Saligao and Calangute Constituencies, as promised by then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar, while setting up of the facility.
GPCC leaders had on October 22, 2019, dashed out a similar memorandum to Governor’s Office, when Dr Mridula Sinha was in the chair.
State Cabinet has granted its consent to enhance the capacity of Saligao plant from existing 100 tonnes per day to 250 tonnes per day.
Addressing the media persons on Saturday, the duo said the Governor is been urged to issue necessary directions to the government to stop the expansion project since “the affected villagers have not been taken into confidence”.
“Request to direct the State government to drop the proposed expansion of capacity of the Saligao-Calangute waste treatment plant from 100TPD to 250TPD in view of well founded reasons and genuine concerns expressed by people of Saligao and Calangute Constituencies,” the letter stated.
The Congress leaders pointed out that the existing facility was set up at Saligao plateau despite opposition from the locals, who were promised by then chief minister (late) Manohar Parrikar on October 18, 2013 that the facility would cater to only two constituencies — Saligao and Calangute.
The duo said that the decision of the Cabinet pertaining to the expansion, without taking public into confidence is “most arbitrary, dictatorial and against the people of the affected villages of Saligao and Calangute Constituencies”.
Naik, during the press conference, pointed out that the current MLA of Saligao was a minister when the Cabinet cleared the expansion of the garbage plant.
