PANJIM: In major relief to all parties – State Government,
Saligao locals and Goa Foundation – the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given
its go ahead to the ambitious solid waste management facility (SWMF) at
Saligao, while allowing villagers to monitor the functioning of the garbage
processing plant. Directing that only
100 tons of garbage should be treated at the plant daily, NGT has made it
compulsory for CCTV to be installed so as to monitor the functioning.
NGT on Wednesday disposed off the petition filed by Saligao
Civic and Consumer Cell (SCCC) and Goa Foundation (GF), challenging the
environmental clearances granted to the plant by the State Environment Impact
Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to the project. NGT upheld the EC granted to the
SWMF. SCCC and GF had approached NGT in January, last year.
The petitioner, Dr Claude Alvares, said that NGT passed the
order this morning incorporating all the conditions agreed upon by the parties
– authorities of the State government, project proponent SMP Infrastructure and
the petitioners – and accordingly disposed the challenge. “The villagers of
Saligao have been permitted to monitor the functioning of the garbage
processing plant. If they note that any of the conditions in the joint
statement are violated, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will
issue immediate directions. Parties can approach the NGT as well,” he said.
As per the various commitments by both – petitioners and
respondents – it was agreed that the total quantum of waste coming into the
plant will not be more than 100 tons per day and it would be bio-degradable
waste only, as per High Court directives. “Excavation and processing of old
waste from the quarry shall be completed within a period of 30 months excluding
the monsoon,” it said.
Pointing to the fact that the plot where the plant is
situated has a green area of 33 percent and in and around the plant bordering
on the periphery and has already been declared as a natural cover/no
development zone, the protection shall continue to be in operation and the area
shall not be altered for any other land use.
It has been agreed that the plant shall be monitored
continuously through CCTV footage, installed by the project proponent and that
the appellant nominee appointed by the Goa State Infrastructure Development
Corporation (GSIDC) will conduct monthly inspection.
NGT DECREES
–
Only 100 tons of garbage to be treated daily
–
Waste to be treated should be biodegradable
–
Allows villagers to monitor functioning of the
plant
–
CCTV to be installed to help monitor functioning
–
Processing of old waste from quarry to be
completed within 30 months
–
Green area around the plant to be maintained
