Waste segregation has improved water quality on beaches: GWMC

PANJIM: The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has claimed that the water quality on beaches in North Goa has improved as most panchayats are segregating waste at the point of collection like littering places and spots on coastline. 

Pointing to the report on Herald about Saligao local’s protest against expansion of waste treatment plant, the GWMC General Manager (GM) Dominic Fernandes said that the government and the Corporation have taken tremendous efforts to ensure segregation of waste at source.

“The integrated SWM (Solid Waste Management) facility in Saligao scientifically manages the waste, as per the waste management rules. It is the endeavour of the State government that each and every local body and municipality segregates the waste and delivers the segregated waste to the processing facility in segregated form. As per the SWM rules, 2016 it is essential that the waste is collected, transported and treated in a segregated manner,” the clarification stated.

The letter added that the GWMC follows the SWM rules as per the law and operates the plant accordingly and accepts the segregated waste. 

“Though the plant was designed for mixed waste as well as segregated waste, over the past three years the percentage of segregated waste has increased besides the quantum of biodegradable waste has also increased,” he said, while adding “as such the acceptance of only segregated waste should be lauded which is in line with the order of High Court of Bombay at Goa in its order dated 11/07/2019.” 

Further, he clarified that the non-biodegradable / non-recyclable waste and contaminated non-biodegradable waste, which remains after segregation is sent for co-processing to the cement factories which is as per SWM rules, 2016.  

“Mixed waste is normally deposited by the waste collected from public places/ littering spots / beaches and is processed using organic extruder. The water quality from the beaches has improved as such the quantum of mixed waste has reduced.  State government and GWMC have put in a lot of efforts in ensuring segregation and quantum of segregated waste has increased tremendously,” the GWMC GM says.

Govt denies garbage dumped elsewhere, says they get many false ‘stench’ complaints

The Department of Information (DI) note pointing to complaints of stench, stated that   on many occasions’, false complaints of stench have been reported and when the staff of the plant and GWMC has visited such areas immediately, no foul odour/stench is noticed. This has been verified on telephonic complaints even at late nights. 

“As regards to the issue of commercial establishments and complexes treating their own waste, it is the mandate of respective local bodies/GSPCB, in terms of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016,” they said. 

Further, the DI release stated that it is informed that no waste, which has been brought to the plant, is dumped elsewhere. 

“The waste lying outside the plant premises is the one brought from Aradi dump, which is being remediated. Major part of the same is remediated and the remaining portion of the same will be remediated after the end of monsoons,” it reads. 

 Justifying the expansion the government release says that the work concerning Saligao Plant in regards to expansion of the plant capacity is necessitated, as more segregated waste is coming to the plant. Also collection of waste has improved for which capacity has to be augmented from 100 tonnes to 250 tonnes. 

“Waste generation is a dynamic process and quantum of waste has now increased even of the 25 captive panchayats besides that of highway waste collection and beach waste collection. The plant is designed for 100 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity and for treating up to 125 TPD within the terms and conditions of concessionaire agreement. Since initially the collection of waste by panchayats was very low and in that as the component of wet waste was within limits, it was possible to handle it. Now the capacity is augmented by Bio-Press’ additionally, to meet the capacity requirement. The plant is functioning well and anybody can visit the plant to verify it,” it added. 

It further stated that the additional amount required is for expanding the capacity of the plant up to 250 TPD and not for any repair or replacement of existing machinery which may be noted.