GSPCB on Thursday issued a series of directions to the MMC under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and Municipal Solid Waste (Management and handling) Rules, 2000. The directions were issued after it was observed that the council is involved in dumping of waste at Assagao plateau and discharge of waste water into nearby nullah leading to environmental pollution in the vicinity.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that during the site inspection of solid waste management facility of MMC, it was observed that despite acquiring land at Cunchelim as the landfill site, no facility has been established so far. “The municipality has seven composting units but not a single one is operational and the waste water from the organic waste converter (OWC), installed in the fish market is directly discharged into nearby nullah body,” he pointed out. MMC has now been directed to stop discharge of waste water into nullah.
Noronha said that it was also observed that MMC has no baling machine, no waste segregation system in place, all leading to environmental pollution.
Hence, a direction is been issued to install machine for baling the plastic waste and hand it over to government agencies and to construct a landfill site for dumping waste. “Door to door collection of segregated waste has to be started by MMC in all wards. Segregated non biodegradable waste may be sent for recycling, while non recyclable waste can be sent for co-procession in a cement kiln after baling or handed over to government agencies,” the directions read.
The board has warned that it would initiate court proceedings against MMC if it fails to comply with the directions.
