PANJIM: In a significant development which may pave the way for a middle ground in the vexed future of the Saligao garbage treatment plant, the government and environmentalists met to chalk out a way forward, under directions of the National Green Tribunal. The NGT is hearing a petition against the plant filed by the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell and the Goa Foundation.
The meeting which took place at Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni’s office and was attended among others by Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation and Architect and Saligao resident and member of the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell, (SCCC) Dean D’Cruz, decided to positively recommend several points concerning several crucial issues, some of which were settled in favour of what Saligao locals and the Goa Foundation was always demanding.
Among the broad areas of agreement are
a) Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell will be allowed to inspect/monitor the progress of the plant, once a month and ensure that all parameters are followed
b) The total quantum of waste coming into the plant will not be more than 100 tons per day (TPD)
c) A green buffer zone will be created around the plant
d The top part of the existing waste (old) some of which is in a semi-compost state will be sent to the plant to be treated. The remaining waste (inerts, plastic etc) will be sorted and disposed off
e) The very old waste in any case has been composted and can be used as manure for the green belt (buffer to be built around the plant).
Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, speaking to Herald said, “We had a conducive meeting. Claude Alvares did make some good suggestions and we agreed that we need the plant for the sake of managing garbage.”
Alvares when contacted later said, “The most significant aspect of this meeting was that the locals of Saligao have been recognised as important stakeholders and that it is clear that the total tonnage per day will be 100 tons only.”
However, several questions remain unanswered and may yet turn out to be impediments for the government in going ahead with this plant, which is a white elephant in terms of costs incurred. The unsettled areas are
— The government has made no commitment on a dedicated access road to the proposed plant, which will allow unhindered carriage of waste without affecting the village.
— No deadlines have been set regarding the completion of the plant. The SCCC and the Goa Foundation wanted a time commitment, with D’Cruz even stating, “The government is quick to give deadlines for most projects, so why not for the Saligao treatment plant?”
– There is absolutely no clarity on whether the plant is for garbage generated from the villages of Calangute and Saligao or if it’s for the whole of North Goa. Saligao residents have clearly said that garbage from all over North Goa cannot be allowed to be dumped at Saligao. Moreover, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, on a visit to the plant site on October 16, 2015 said, “I am making it clear that the garbage treatment plant is only for Calangute and Saligao constituencies, and maybe nearby coastal villages. It is not for the entire North Goa. However, according to D’Cruz, the Advocate General was not prepared to give any such assurances.
While admittedly a middle path seems to have been found, a smooth future for this plant will be possible only when the contentious issues which haven’t been addressed are discussed threadbare. For now the points agreed upon will be presented before the NGT, with the Goa Foundation and SCCC in no mood to withdraw from litigation till larger allegations of illegalities are argued and settled in Court.
