MARGAO: Putting an end to long-standing demands on the issue, the State government has finally
allocated land at the Leprosy Hospital area in Curtorim for the construction of the Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
In an official communication dated May 27, the Estate Officer of the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Shripad Arlekar enclosed a letter from the Under Secretary (Health-II) confirming the government’s approval to grant 3,050 square metres of land situated at Leprosy Hospital Macazana, which is under the Curtorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) to Curtorim village panchayat for the MRF (shed).
This correspondence also referenced the panchayat’s earlier request from September 21, 2023 for the grant of the said land.
It may be recalled that the villagers had been demanding for the land at the leprosy hospital and had opposed the use of the leprosy hospital land for other purposes. This was raised at the gram sabha too where a resolution was passed following which the panchayat had written to the Health Department.
The villagers had identified the land in the year 2006, which they felt was the most suitable for the MRF. In the past, approvals were received from the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department (TCP), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) etc but at that time, the Health Department, which owns the land, had refused to part with the land.
Prior to this, the village was handicapped as it was lacking a permanent MRF shed. Villagers had argued for long that since the leprosy hospital has a large area, sparing a small portion for the MRF shed for proper waste management would be justified.
The issue has been discussed repeatedly in past village meetings (gram sabhas) as well as village garbage committee meetings, following which the MLA agreed to take it up with the Health Minister and Chief Minister.
Reacting to the news, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said he was overwhelmed to get the approval of the MRF facility at Curtorim.
