TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: While reiterating the demand to shift the garbage treatment plant proposed atop the Saligao-Calangute hillock, to an alternate site, the residents of Saligao are set to fight a legal battle against the state government over relocation of the plant
The residents Saligao have decided to file a contempt petition in the High Court against the Government, for violating the Court’s 2003 order which had opposed setting up of any waste treatment plant at the proposed site.
“The 2003 High Court order says that once the solid waste plant in North Goa is set up, the present site (where the garbage has been dumped) to be reverted to the forest department, as earlier it was under social forestry, so as to rehabilitate and restore it into its original state,” the members of Saligao Garbage Struggle (SGS) told media persons Tuesday evening.
Saligao communidade member Dean D’Cruz said that government has completely violated the High Court ruling in this matter (Writ Petition No. 28/2003) and hence faces contempt.
We will shortly file the contempt petition in the Court, with a plea that government should be asked to implement the said order, D’Cruz said.
The villagers expressed overwhelming support to the treatment plant, but however, demanded that government should look for an alternative site atop the plateau. ”Because the plant endangers all three Salmona waste springs and human communities in the three villages, more than the present dump,” D’Cruz said. He pointed out that the villagers have proposed an alternate site on the same plateau, only 700 mtrs away from the proposed site above the Salmona hill.
SGS has also demanded that if government does not agree to shift the plant, than there should be a dedicated approach road to the plant, instead of garbage trucks passing through the residential areas of Saligao.
Further, they also demand that the garbage treatment plant, with a capacity of 100 tonnes, should cater only to Calangute, Candolim and Saligao garbage.
The villagers also demanded a complete clean up of the present dump site as per HC order.
