The Times of India      15.09.2014 

PMC’s new waste treatment plant is yet to be used

Mapusa: Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) has given two months' time to the Pernem municipal council (PMC) to get its brand new 3.25 crore non-functional garbage treatment plant in functioning condition. GSPCB had inspected the non-functional garbage treatment plant of the PMC. The modern technology garbage treatment plant has not been put to use even after its grand inauguration by the urban development minister Francis D'Souza, 20 months ago. Pernem is the only municipality after Bicholim which has its own garbage treatment plant, but, the lackadaisical attitude and lack of enthusiasm of the authorities has let Pernem down. Heavy machinery has been installed, but, no staff have been appointed to work at the plant.

The board issued its authorization to operate the garbage treatment plant set up at Pernem on January 18, 2013. During the inspection, GSPCB made observations that the unit has a capacity of processing five metric tonnes. During the inspection, the unit official said that the quantum of solid waste generated within the jurisdiction of PMC is as low as 0.60 metric tonnes per day. The municipal council has not started door-to-door collection of segregated waste. The municipal council has 22 composting pits out of which only six were in use. The unit official said that they are in the process of communicating to the village panchayats for treatment of their solid waste.

"Investment has been made, why should it be left idle? More so, when there is an issue of the waste management in those areas, especially, in the famous touristic spot like Morjim," GSPCB chairman Jose Noronha said.

"We will inspect the PMC's operations at the solid waste management facility at Pernem two months later and will ascertain that the plant is operational and compost is generated. This compost will be scientifically tested to ensure that it is suitable and fit for using in the food chain," Noronha said.

"PMC knew about the garbage processing capacity of the plant and the garbage generated in Pernem. The local panchayats could have been contacted first, during the construction of the plant and when the plant was completed, all the formalities could have been complete," a concerned citizen from Pernem said, on condition of anonymity.

"They have not done it even after almost two years after commissioning of the plant," he added. Following high court orders on garbage disposal, village panchayats in Pernem taluka are forming committees to tackle the garbage issue, but PMC's non-functional garbage treatment plant has dampening all their efforts.

Garbage collected by panchayats is not finding its way for proper disposal as the garbage treatment plant of PMC is still not functional.

As a result, the collected garbage is not treated and ends up in open land and even at the panchayat buildings.