This small day to day anecdote tells a larger story. Sharda Kerkar from Gogal, Margao recently attempted to dispose of shoes which were discarded by the family. The waste collector said “We don’t accept shoes in the dry waste”. This is leaving several puzzled as they do not know what they do with that now.
Waste in many categories doesn’t make it to collector’s bins
Even as the MMC is trying to effectively collect all dry and wet waste, the absence of expertise in handling the waste is being felt. Wastes like shoes, construction material don’t find any place in the bins of the MMC. These rejected wastes are getting dumped on the road sides.
MMC had deposited Rs. 1 crore to the Waste Management Corporation for the restoration of the landfill site besides the Sonsodo Plant. The landfill site still remains in the same state.
SGPDA to soon get bio-methanation plant
As far as the daily waste is concerned the SGPDA Market which is the bulk waste generator will soon get a bio-methanation plant of 5 tons per day. Engineer of MMC Vishant Gaonkar has informed that the MMC has sought the performance guarantee from the agency that has won the tender. “The letter of intent has been given by MMC and soon the work order will be issued” said Vishant. Vishant also said that building a shade for the machine is going to be in the scope of the work of the agency and will be installed besides the fish cutters in the SGPDA Retail Fish market.
The MMC has been waiting for a concrete proposal from the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) for the plan to have the remaining bio-methanation plants, though it is surprising why the Waste Management Corporation is not handling this since it comes under its direct mandate.
On the Sept 15, 2020, in one of the last Council meetings the MMC had resolved to approve the proposal of the Goa Waste Management Corporation for installation of 7 modular bio-methanation garbage treatment machines at Sonsodo. 7 plants with a capacity of 5 tons of Garbage treatment per day to be installed in phased manner at the Sonsodo. There is no sign of these plants yet.
Waste pick needs to speed up
The Baling of dry waste too is happening well but there is a delay in picking the waste which is creating a space crunch.
Election after election assurances of putting an end to the waste problems of Margao are given but the issues haven’t been resolved. The people of Margao this time round will be looking up to the MMC for finding a resolve to this age-old problem.
