MARGAO: Verna Panchayat at the gram sabha held on Sunday resolved to oppose the garbage treatment plant at Verna Industrial Estate. Panchayat has also demanded government scrap the proposed plant immediately.
At the time when people from other parts of State are struggling to fight against the garbage menace in absence of the required waste treatment plant, this resolution of the villagers of Verna has raised the eyebrows of many. However, at the same time villagers residing here fear that the proposed waste treatment plant will destroy their agricultural fields, and water bodies.
The issue pertaining to the garbage treatment plant at Verna IDC was discussed at the gram sabha, and several gram sabha members present at the meeting strongly opposed the same. Villagers also demanded to bring this resolution on record, and also to make aware about the same to the local MLA.
William Barreto, Sarpanch, and other panchas also brought to the notice of the villagers that the panchayat body had already forwarded their objections to the waste treatment plant in 2019. However, panch members expressed shock when suddenly they heard the news of setting up a plant in Verna. Panchayat body was of the impression that the government had already scrapped the project upon the objections of the villagers.
Speaking to media, Barreto said that they don’t know how the issue of setting up of the proposed garbage treatment plant came up again, as it was opposed long back.
“In 2019, Village panchayat had strongly opposed the proposed waste treatment plant, when they heard about it. Our fear is that the land identified for the proposed plant is on the plateau; it will surely destroy our fields and water bodies located at the lower lying areas,” said Barreto.
He further said the panchayat had submitted the objections to the plant with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Environment and Waste Management Minister before.
Barreto further said that they have no issues pertaining to the garbage management, as the panchayat already has the plant to handle the waste generated in the jurisdiction of the village panchayat.
“Our plant is maintained well by the panchayat and we don’t have any issues with regard to garbage menace in the village,” said Barreto.
Barreto also said that they are planning to shift the waste treatment plant run by panchayat to some other location.
Franky D’Mello, a citizen, said,”People had earlier expressed objections to the plant, as it will affect the village very badly.”
