The Times of India 19.11.2010
Waste segregation at Sonsoddo yet to begin
MARGAO: Nearly three weeks after Fomento began its trial run of the trommel installed at Sonsoddo, segregation of garbage is yet to commence at the site. Reason: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is yet to identify a site for disposing the rejects that will be generated when the trommels become fully functional.
Speaking to TOI, chief executive officer of Fomento Sridhar Kamat said that it was practically unviable to start the segregation process in the absence of any arrangements to dispose of the rejects. "The ball now lies in the court of the MMC," Kamat said, pointing out to the request for proposal ( RFP) document that places the responsibility of carting away the screening rejects on the civic body.
It may be recalled that Fomento had written to the MMC nearly four months back to identify some 20,000 sq m of land for the safe disposal and treatment of waste that will result from the screening exercise that was scheduled to commence post-monsoon.
"The trommels installed at the site have a capacity of sieving 30 tons of non-segregated garbage per hour. If no site is readily available for disposing of this large quantity of rejects, the situation could turn chaotic. We are waiting for the MMC to identify the sites before starting the segregation exercise," Kamat told TOI.
Fomento had, in the letter to the MMC, also pointed out that that the identified land needs to be scientifically managed "so that the material does not cause any difficulty to communities living in and around the dump site, if any, and the local environment in general". It had also stated that "this land is apart from the landfill site required to be identified and developed to cater to the landfill requirement once the temporary landfill site to be developed at Sonsoddo is exhausted".
The MMC is also yet to take any steps towards signing of the concession agreement with Fomento, with the draft agreement lying with the municipal retainer for months together. MMC chief officer Prasanna Acharya, when contacted, said that that the agreement would be "ready" by next week. As regards other issues over Sonsoddo, Acharya said that a meeting with Fomento official would be convened soon.
Meanwhile, following instructions from the chief minister, the MMC authorities claimed to have streamlined the garbage collection and disposal system. "Drivers and sanitary staff have been told to work in tandem to ensure efficient execution of work. We have also received a sanction for the purchase of new garbage compactors and the new machines will join the existing fleet of compactors shortly," Acharya told TOI.
Speaking to TOI, chief executive officer of Fomento Sridhar Kamat said that it was practically unviable to start the segregation process in the absence of any arrangements to dispose of the rejects. "The ball now lies in the court of the MMC," Kamat said, pointing out to the request for proposal ( RFP) document that places the responsibility of carting away the screening rejects on the civic body.
It may be recalled that Fomento had written to the MMC nearly four months back to identify some 20,000 sq m of land for the safe disposal and treatment of waste that will result from the screening exercise that was scheduled to commence post-monsoon.
"The trommels installed at the site have a capacity of sieving 30 tons of non-segregated garbage per hour. If no site is readily available for disposing of this large quantity of rejects, the situation could turn chaotic. We are waiting for the MMC to identify the sites before starting the segregation exercise," Kamat told TOI.
Fomento had, in the letter to the MMC, also pointed out that that the identified land needs to be scientifically managed "so that the material does not cause any difficulty to communities living in and around the dump site, if any, and the local environment in general". It had also stated that "this land is apart from the landfill site required to be identified and developed to cater to the landfill requirement once the temporary landfill site to be developed at Sonsoddo is exhausted".
The MMC is also yet to take any steps towards signing of the concession agreement with Fomento, with the draft agreement lying with the municipal retainer for months together. MMC chief officer Prasanna Acharya, when contacted, said that that the agreement would be "ready" by next week. As regards other issues over Sonsoddo, Acharya said that a meeting with Fomento official would be convened soon.
Meanwhile, following instructions from the chief minister, the MMC authorities claimed to have streamlined the garbage collection and disposal system. "Drivers and sanitary staff have been told to work in tandem to ensure efficient execution of work. We have also received a sanction for the purchase of new garbage compactors and the new machines will join the existing fleet of compactors shortly," Acharya told TOI.
