Tensions are rising in Saligao as locals and area representatives express strong opposition to the increasing burden placed on the village’s Garbage Treatment Plant (GTP). Saligao MLA Kedar Naik has publicly voiced concerns over the facility being used beyond its originally intended scope, warning that residents may soon resort to blocking garbage trucks entering the area.
"When the GTP was first built, it was meant solely for Bardez. That’s the understanding under which Saligao residents agreed to its establishment," Naik stated. "But over time, its role expanded to cover all of North Goa, and the plant’s capacity was increased to 300 tonnes per day."
According to Naik, the situation has now worsened, with garbage reportedly being transported from areas in South Goa, including Ponda and Margao, to the Saligao GTP — a move that has sparked local outrage.
"We do not want Saligao to become the dumping ground for the entire state," Naik asserted. "Other regions must have their own waste management facilities."
The continuous movement of garbage trucks through Saligao, Sangolda, and Pilerne has created a persistent stench that is now affecting even nearby tourist hubs such as Calangute and Candolim, residents say.
Naik warned that unless authorities immediately stop routing South Goa garbage to Saligao, locals will take matters into their own hands. "No garbage from South Goa should be brought here. If this isn’t stopped, people will begin blocking the trucks," he said.
The issue has reignited a broader debate on decentralised waste management and the equitable distribution of waste processing facilities across Goa. Locals are calling for the establishment of additional regional GTPs to prevent overburdening any single community.