SURAJ NANDREKAR
After facing criticism from various quarters, Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo on Saturday said that the Garbage situation in Goa has become a grim reality and nobody wants waste in their backyard.
Referring to protest by Saligao residents against the government plans to expand the Saligao waste management plant to 250 tonnes, Lobo said the people are not understanding it would have no impact on the surrounding areas.
“The people’s concerns on expansion is unwarranted, there would be no impact on the surrounding areas. It is just that we are increasing the capacity of the plant,” he said.
Explaining further, he said, when the plant started it was handling 100 tonnes but later on more and more panchayats started to bring in their garbage.
“We had no option but to accept, right now Panjim garbage is itself around 20 tonnes per day. So we have started getting around 180 tonnes per day which means in season time we would get around 240 tonnes,” he stated.
The minister said that right now it is handling whatever is coming but in two shifts.
“We cannot handle the incoming waste in just one shift. But after expansion we will be able to handle the same in one shift,” he stated.
Stating that the protest seems to be motivated, Lobo said that situation is same in entire Goa.
“Everybody is generating garbage but nobody wants garbage in their backyard,” he said.
On concerns of trucks spilling garbage on roads, he said, “that can be discussed and sorted out.”
Pointing to village panchayats from Tiswadi, he said “the situation in panchayats like Merces, St Cruz and Old Goa is real bad, they want us to handle waste but do not want a plant in Bainguinim.”
He, however, said come what may he would solve the garbage situation in Goa.
“The expansion in Saligao will be done and so will the Bainguinim plant. Besides the Cacora plant formalities are almost complete and soon the work order will be issued once concessionaire agreement is signed in few weeks,” he said.
Suggesting the tourism is suffering due to the waste menace, he said, he wants people to co-operate.
“I am here to solve garbage issue. I did not ask for any plum portfolio but the waste management as I really want to work for the people and I do not care of what my rivals call me or say,” he replied when asked on his reaction on being called the garbage minister.
Similarly, he said the Sonsoddo issue, pending for a long time, would also be solved amicably.
