landfill sites in Goa

PANJIM: Taking serious note of the increasing garbage menace in the state, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has asked the two municipal councils – Curchorem and Cuncolim – to call a meeting of the Chief Officer of the Municipal Council, Director of Municipal Administration and a officer of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to select the landfill site. This has to be done within 10 days.



Further, the Court also recorded that in respect of the 11 municipal councils, sites have been identified and approved, while in respect of 2, the approved sites for garbage treatment in a scientific manner and in accordance with Municipal Solid Waste Rules was rejected by the Gram sabha.



Of the 11 sites, which were identified, in 3 of the sites the acquisition has been complete, in 3 acquisition has to be initiated and in 4 other, the acquisition is still to be initiated.



The High Court has asked the government to initiate and complete acquisition in respect of the seven municipal councils.



It must be recalled that majority of proposals for landfill sites were pending either on account of public opposition or opposition of panchayat or rejection of the permission from Goa State Pollution Control Board.



While the Chief Officer of Mormugao Municipal Council stated that they have already set up a waste treatment plant at Sada, Vasco for composting of municipal waste through microbial composting method, Chief Officer of Bicholim Municipal Council had submitted that they have identified a landfill site at Bordem, Bicholim. Deputy Collector of Ponda stated that they have identified land at Keriyan, Khandepar village and the Chief Officer of Mapusa Municipal Council said that they have selected a site at Cuchelim village. Even the case of Panjim is no different. Land acquisition at Bainguinim has been kept on hold due to people's opposition.