TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Ponda Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes has convened a joint meeting on Tuesday of Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) and Curti-Khandepar Panchayat to discuss the issue of garbage treatment facility at Kerye-Khandepar.
According to information, Fernandes, who is also the PMC chief officer, intervened after the panchayat refused to attend a meeting with PMC to discuss the issue.
It may be recalled that following villagers’ complaint, the panchayat raised objections to PMC’s garbage treatment facility at Kerye site. Several years ago, PMC had acquired about 18,000 sq mtrs of land at Kerye and based on High Court directives resumed the work to set up garbage treatment facility there.
After constructing a shed at the site, PMC recently started using it to dry manure generated from organic waste convertors (OWC) which are in operation in the city. However, PMC faced stiff opposition as villagers claimed that there was influx of flies due to the manure which was kept to dry at the site. Fearing an outbreak of disease, villagers demanded that PMC immediately stop using the area for the purpose.
The panchayat also refused to attend a closed-door meeting with PMC to discuss the issue and instead asked to hold a joint site inspection of the garbage treatment facility, along with villagers at Kerye.
“Earlier, PMC requested the panchayat members to attend the meeting to clear doubts about the garbage treatment facility. Initially, there were some hiccups which have been rectified. There is no need to worry and I will appeal to the panchayat to understand the measures taken by PMC so that panchas can inform about it to the residents,” informed PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak.
The contentious issue of dumping waste at Kerye and also of the PMC trying to set up a garbage disposal plant there has met with stiff resistance from the locals who have been supported by the panchayat right from the beginning.
