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.