MORMUGAO: Thirty days have passed, but the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) is yet to start repairing the damaged retaining wall of the garbage dump at Headland Sada, Mormugao.
The MMC swung into action when Herald first reported the matter. Officials conducted a site inspection and assured that repairs would commence soon. They later assured to start the work when the MMC received grants from the director of municipal administration. It was all words and no action.
The situation there worsens each day, especially when it rains. Huge amounts of water mixes with untreated garbage, and the mixture then flows down the hill and into the Arabian Sea. A recent visit to the site revealed that the remaining portion of the wall has become weak; cracks can be seen in it.
Surprisingly, this serious health and environmental hazard is yet to get attention of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). The GSPCB had filed an FIR against the MMC, but is yet to inspect the site.
Vasco citizens expressed their disappointment. Advocate Rajan Naik said, “The only thing MMC did after the news was highlighted in press was to push the garbage heap a little backward. However, the danger of garbage sliding down the hill still exists. As per my information, over two truckloads of garbage have already gone down the hill, which not only a health hazard, but will also have an adverse effect on marine life.”
RTI activist Bandagit Nada has decided to place the matter before the National Green Tribunal.
“MMC appears to be least bothered about the law of the land. What surprises us more is the fact that there is already a standing order of NGT to rectify and put the garbage plant in order. There is also a police FIR against MMC officials for non-implementation of the openly pronounced order. The garbage site at Sada is becoming like an atom bomb that can explode any moment. Taking cognizance of the same, I have decided to approach NGT to file a contempt petition against MMC,” said Bandagit.
