DHIRAJ HARMALKAR
dhiraj@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council is aiming at finding a solution to the long-standing Sada garbage dump site problem. The civic body is hoping its plans to treat the dry and wet garbage waste with its bio-gas plant works. Moreover, there are plans to use a chemical solution that will take away the stench making the waste odourless. The preliminary trial report has confirmed that it was successful in making the waste odourless and in accelerating the composting process. They are now waiting for a further proposal on this to get cleared at the next council meeting.
For Sada locals, the dump site has given them sleepless nights due to the unbearable foul smell emanating from the area.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Nimesh Pillai at the MPT hospital, which is located near the solid waste dumping site, opined that over the years, the garbage issue had gone from bad to worse. “The garbage which is dumped and piled up at the site gives a foul stench and harmful gas, which are unhealthy. We are bearing the brunt of the foul smell since year 2005 and we are living with it,” Pillai added.
He said that sometimes the garbage catches fire and that the resulting toxic fumes also make it difficult for the patients and rued that during the monsoon season, the dumping site becomes a source for vector-borne diseases. Pillai added that letters have been sent repeatedly to the municipality but that the situation had remained the same; inspite of GSPCB conducting joint inspections of the site.
Junior engineer Aniruddh Pawar, informed that they have a bailing machine in operation at the solid waste dumping site.
Pawar further told that MMC has proposed 2 baling machines to GSUDA and DMA from which 1 baling machine has arrived, which soon be operational. “The baled plastic waste in March was approximately 17.50 tonnes and the unbaled solid waste stored at the dumping site was around 60 tonnes, “he informed.
Regarding the proposal to make the solid waste odourless, Pawar said the preliminary trial report conducted by the agency was positive. He explained that the objective of the trial was to check the effectiveness of Renerzyme chemical to control odour and to accelerate the composing of solid waste. 3 litres of the chemical was mixed with 300 litres of water, which was sprayed on 5 mtrsof solid waste from the solid dumping site.
When asked about the status, the engineer said that council had approved the proposal to use this chemical to tackle waste and that the decision to purchase this chemical is what has to be put up and passed at the next council meeting.
