MARGAO: On the eve of Christmas, the group of socially-conscious ‘Citizens of Margao and Fatorda’ held a protest condemning the government and the authorities concerned, including the Margao Municipality, Goa Waste Management Corporation and the Goa Pollution Control Board for dumping hazardous and poisonous material in the low-lying field near the District Court at Margao.
Armed with banners, the citizens questioned Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as to whether dumping of hazardous waste was a part of the ‘Save the Soil’ Memorandum of Understanding signed with Sadguru’s Isha Foundation.
Several protesters including Jose Maria Miranda, Candeth Castello, Anthony Gonsalves, Mahesh Naik and Zarina Da Cunha strongly criticised the authorities for their ‘don’t care a damn attitude’ towards public health.
In his talk, Mahesh Naik wanted to know why the Hon’ble High Court has failed to monitor the work undertaken by the MMC and GWMC, since it is being undertaken through a PIL writ petition.
Savio Coutinho, convenor, Shadow Council for Margao, said that the citizens group have addressed the issue by way of written complaints before every forum-from the Prime Minister to the High Court, the Pollution Control Board and even the Director for Environment and Climate Change, but no positive action seemed to be forthcoming.
“And now, taking advantage of the Christmas season and the court vacations, the dumping which was temporarily on hold has commenced once again,” said Coutinho.
The protesters, including Maria do Carmo, Antonio Pereira, Adv Snehal Onskar, Iftiyaz Sayed, Dinesh Naik, Damodar Onskar, demanded that the dumping of the hazardous waste be stopped immediately.
