MARGAO
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) officials descended on Sonsodo for an inquiry into the host of issues, including dumping of wet waste outside the waste treatment plant and the running of the plant sans the mandatory consent from the Pollution Control Board.
The visit by GSPCB officials came a day ahead of the visit of Waste Management Minister, Antanasio Monserrate to Sonsodo scheduled on Tuesday and also comes against the backdrop of last week’s fire incident, which is believed to have burnt tonnes of dry and plastic waste dumped outside the shed.
Sources in the know told The Goan that GSPCB officials sought to find out whether wet waste is still being dumped outside the waste treatment plant shed.
The official on duty is believed to have sought details on how the MMC is operating the plant without the valid consent to operate from the Board.
The official is believed to have told MMC officials accompanying the team that the plant cannot be operated without the valid consent from the Board under the Water and Air Act and without the valid authorization under the Hazardous Waste rules and Solid waste rules.
In fact, these were the very same points which the GSPCB had filed before the High Court. The MMC official is believed to have told the GSPCB team that the MMC had already applied for the consent to operation online.
In its report filed before the High Court, the GSPCB had stated that all is not well at the Sonsodo waste treatment plant. The report had stated that screening plant for composting of Wet Waste was not functional, wet waste was being dumped outside the shed, leachate formation and flow was observed from the dump outside the shed etc.
Incidentally, based on the contents in the GSPCB report filed before the High Court, Director of Municipal Administration Gurudas Pilarnekar last week issued notice to the Municipal Chairperson Lyndon Pereira, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, Municipal Engineer Manoj Arsekar and other officials why disciplinary action as deemed fit should not be initiated against them for alleged negligence.
In fact, the Municipal Director has stated that any failure on the part of the Committee to implement comply with the directions given in the said Order, shall invite action against the Chairperson/ Mayor for disqualification as per relevant provisions of the Goa Municipalities Act 1968/The City Corporation of Panaji Act, 2002 as it would be construed as persistent failure to discharge their duties.
