PANJIM: The Congress has appealed to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to come clear on the Saligao Solid Waste Management Plant. Speaking to Herald, Congress leaders said Saligao residents are living in anxiety over the confusion of the garbage treatment in the village.
“CM should clear the confusion whether the garbage of entire North Goa will be treated at Saligao or only the garbage of Candolim, Calangute, Baga and Saligao will be treated there,” Congress General Secretary and former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes said.
He said the proposed plant with 100 tonne capacity will not suffice to treat the garbage of North Goa. Congress has warned of a strong protest if the government goes ahead with this despite local resistance.
Fernandes said that Candolim, Calangute and Baga generate almost 130 tonnes of garbage daily, plus Saligao, Pilerne, Arpora and Parra generate another 30 tonnes of garbage. The existing garbage exceeds the plant capacity by 50%, he said and questioned how the garbage of the entire district can be treated at this plant.
“CM should break his silence and considering the views of the people should take a decision. We don’t want Saligao and Calangute to be labeled as garbage dump” Fernandes said.
The Saligao Panchayat and Comunidade have also said that the plant should only cater to the garbage of the two constituencies as garbage from the entire district will create a mess in the village.
Another Congress General Secretary, and Saligao resident, Yatish Naik, said that if garbage from the entire district is taken to Saligao it will pile up and the village will smell. “German technology will not work in Goa, the climatic condition of the area are also a matter of concern. Here in Goa the garbage will dry up in heat and smell,” Naik said.
Naik said the government should keep the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report open so locals of Saligao know what has been mentioned in it.
Salmona spring which is at the foot of the hill is already polluted due to the dumping of garbage on the hill for years, Naik said. The hill which is ecologically sensitive has rich flora and fauna and the spring water was once used by villagers for medicinal purposes.
Treating of garbage of entire North Goa at Saligao will not only affect villagers but will be a disaster, Naik said. “We are not against the garbage treatment plant, but we are against the way the government is fooling the people of Saligao and from the backdoor they are trying to get entire district’s garbage in our village,” Naik said.
