PMC Chief says opposition is politically motivated
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Undeterred by the opposition, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) will go ahead with the garbage disposal project at Keriyem-Khandepar.
“Opposition to the garbage treatment facility at Keriyem-Khandepar appears to be politically motivated, but I will appeal to the public not to get carried away as the plant will do no harm to the health of the residents,” assured PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak
“At the moment, part of the area will be utilised only to dry manure generated from organic waste convertors (OWC). There won’t be garbage dumping at the site and people need not panic,” she added.
It may be recalled that Curti-Khandepar gram sabha on Sunday was adjourned over the issue of garbage disposal project undertaken by PMC at Keriyem. PMC had recently constructed a shed to dry manure generated from organic waste convertors which are in operation in the city. Residents demanded stoppage of the project claiming that manure kept to dry attracted flies and feared an outbreak of disease.
Nayak said, “OWC machines will be shifted to Keriyem after some time and in the longer run we intend to bring in technologically advance machinery to treat garbage.”
Nayak informed that based on High Court directives PMC started the work to set up garbage treatment facility at the notified land (about 18,000 sq mtrs) and PMC has to file a compliance report to the High Court by September 2014.
Meanwhile, Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar has urged villagers to adopt legal course if at all villagers have any doubt pertaining to PMC’s garbage disposal facility.
“Since the High Court issued directives to set up the garbage treatment facility, it will be contempt of court if the panchayat stops the work. I have assured villagers of my support if they take a legal course. The plant should not become nuisance and I will also appeal to PMC to take due care,” added Mamledar.
It may be recalled that there was tremendous opposition from the residents of Keriyem to the plans of the Ponda Municipal council to dump waste at the site, which incidentally belongs to the council. Villagers now say they will wait and see what happens next and accordingly take the next step in this vexed issue of garbage treatment.
