MARGAO: Yet again, the Sonsoddo dump site is causing a major health hazard as stinking leachate from the accumulated waste flows towards nearby residential areas, triggered by the heavy rains and the lack of measures from the Margao Municipal Council to address the seasonal issue. A recent visit to the site revealed the alarming situation of the dump yard, causing residents to express anger and demand immediate action.
The flow of leachate originates from the old treatment plant, which receives the waste collected daily, as well as from the bioremediated dumps of RDF. Presently, the leachate, mixed with rainwater, is heading towards residential houses near the Sonsoddo dump yard, posing a risk to both residents and workers of the civic body.
Locals from Borda and Gogol are already frustrated with the stench from the legacy landfill, and fear that the leachate may eventually contaminate nearby fields through the drainage system.
The issue has gained attention, with the High Court directing the Margao Municipal Council to find a solution to the leachate problem. Consequently, the civic body had initiated a process to construct tanks to contain the leachate from flowing into public gutters.
Reacting to the leachate overflow, Prashant Naik, a resident of Borda, expressed anger and demanded immediate measures to stop the leachate, which he also worries will contaminate the ground water table. He criticized the civic body for failing to address the recurring problem, stating that the flow of leachate into residential areas poses a major health hazard.
MMC councillor Camilo Barreto, Chairman of the Sanitation Committee, candidly admitted that the leachate continues to flow from the dump site without any action taken by the civic body to stop it. He also acknowledged that the construction of tanks to store the leachate remains incomplete.
Despite attempts to seek a response from MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar, he failed to answer phone calls.
