HC directs GWMC to start transporting wet waste from Sonsoddo to Cacora

PANJIM: Stating that solid waste management at Sonsoddo is one of the most serious issues, which is hanging fire for the last several years, the Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday directed the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) to start from Thursday transporting 20 MT of wet waste from Margao municipal area to the Cacora Solid Waste Management Plant on daily basis so that its treatment can start from September 1. 

At the same time, the Court has urged the State government to consider formal inauguration of the newly built state-of-the-art Cacora SWM Plant at an early date even as treating waste from Margao would commence there from Friday. The Cacora SWM has the capacity to treat 100 tonnes per day (TPD) i.e. 40 TPD dry waste and 60 TPD wet waste.

During the hearing of public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by Citizens for Sonsoddo through its secretary Roque Mascarenhas and others, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the Court that the GWMC will transport 20 MTs of wet waste from within the jurisdiction of Margao municipal council to the Cacora SWM Plant through their own specialised vehicles from 31st August so that its treatment can start from September 1. He submitted that the Margao municipal council will have to pay for the transportation cost to the GWMC. 

Ad V S D Padiyar representing the Margao municipal council stated that the daily generation of wet waste within its jurisdiction was about 35 MTs. The municipality itself treats 5 MTs of wet waste. Presently, 30 MTs is sent to the Saligao SWM plant as per the order of the Director of Urban Development dated July 11, 2023. He said that now 20 MTs of wet waste will be sent to the Cacora SWM Plant from Thursday, and the balance 10 MTs will be sent to the Saligao plant. 

Adv Padiyar also stated that the Margao municipal council will deposit Rs 2.5 crore with the GWMC, towards remediation process. 

The Court also accepted the assurance given by the parties that they would sort out the issue about fire safety arrangement at Sonsoddo garbage dumping site. The GWMC has been asked to apprise the Court on the status of treatment of waste of the Margao municipal council during the next hearing on September 5.