The Saligao MLA, Jayesh Salgaonkar, is opposing the expansion of the Solid Waste Treatment Plant at Saligao and says the people will not accept it at any cost. The locals are upset as they find garbage being strewn and unhygienic situation created due to the plant. He is of the opinion that the government is trying to make the heritage village of Saligao a garbage hub.
Jayesh Salgaonkar pointed out that earlier garbage was supposed to be collected from two constituencies but currently 29 panchayats are bringing their waste to Saligao.
“The places where segregation was being carried out on a small scale is today being stopped and brought to Saligao for segregation. The plant can treat only 100 tonnes of garbage. We can see garbage outside the plant. Now they want to set up a new plant that will burn plastic also which will release hazardous fumes. The smell from the plant is reaching up to Nerul now. It was supposed to be a five-star property where people could come and have picnics. Forget having food there we cannot even eat in our homes with the foul smell,” said Jayesh.
The villages of Verem, Pilerne and Nerul are also having to bear the stink of the foul smell. Besides that vehicles carrying garbage are spilling leachate all over.
“The vigilant people blame the panchayat and MLAs but the plant operators have to see to it and act against those people indulging in doing so. Every panchayat has a designated area where garbage is being segregated. Why is it not being segregated at source? Panchayat has procured some bins also. There is a need to segregate garbage at source. The cost of one garbage plant is around Rs 300 to 400 crores. Instead give Rs 2 crores to each panchayat and let them have a plant in the village where they treat and handle their own garbage,” said Jayesh.
