PROPOSED SOLUTION FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
A REPORT: On first of April 2016 at 11 AM, CCP Mayor has organized a meeting in the CCP Hall . The proposal for garden management by Plastic Export Zundert (I) Pvt Ltd. ( PEZ) was put up before the councilors and few persons from Panjim approximately only five Panjimites have attended the meeting, as invitees. It was brought to the notice of Mayor Surendra Furtado by Stephen Dias, a Panjimite after the presentation that the landfill site for mixed garbage was not advisable because of various factors such as uneven terrain of rocky and hilly area and low lying areas at certain places which are vulnerable during sea level rise at some parts of Panjim like near Hotel Mandovi, ( Congress House), Miramar circle, , Campal and St Ines Creek at Camarabhat etc will have tremendous impact and the transportation and installation of their machinery will have also tremendous cost. Subsequently he has also put up some questions to the PEZ after the presentation, what could be the total landfill cost for one tonne of combustible waste including operational costs? Also asked how they will generate the electricity power out of waste material. What was landfill gas technology? What problems will they face at the time of flooding if situated at wrong location and how will they overcome? Another question was also asked is how planning is done on wet land constructions process? All these questions had no proper answers. He also said that while he was in Netherlnad, he visited places at Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Utrecht by Govt of India on official duty deputed by NIO –NORAD exchange programme in 1986-87 and observed that the land topography was flat and the waste disposal was much simpler than in Goa. In regards to disadvantages points Trioplast lining having seepage from ground water could be disastrous, and the volumous material and limited resources like installations, climate and transport could be cost expenditure. In regards to Multriwell BU, and the enormous amount of investment is required for anaerobic digestors etc. Next, Dr Joe D’Sousa explained that Biogas production at the site by mixed garbage treatment is absurd as such the Panjim spent over 3 to 5 crores to put a Bio Gas plant at Patto which promised electricity to Panjim and this plant went sour and flat and CCP lost over 5 crores in the process to put the Bio Gas plant and later dismantle it. Since there is lot of rainfall in Goa, the leachates due to flooding will contaminate the surrounding areas where the landfill site is installed. Panjim having tropical climate there are every chances of microbial degradation and corrosion of installed machinery as well as the spontaneous generation of fire and destruction from landfill site. Sonsoddo dumping site at Margao is a proof that nothing positive taking place. He sees that the proposal should not be accepted by the Government of Goa as land is scarce in Goa. Next speaker, Patricia Pinto from Campal, also intervene alongwith Commissioner of CCP Sanjit Rodrigues and said that Panjim is already having garbage segregation and disposal. Both of them said also the proposal is not feasible based on their experience. However Mayor if he wants to go ahead, he is free to accept the proposal at his own risk or find some solution said the invitees. At the end of session, during the interaction with David de Sousa, Director and Mr. Johannes T.M. Lubbers Chairman of PEZ , Stephen intervene and pointed out and said that the total cost of sanitary lining landfill alone for a area of 4400 sq.metres shall cost approx. Rs. 1.70 crores. The MLA of Panjim Sidharth Kuncolienkar and Atanasio ( Babush) Monserrate MLA of St Cruz and Panel Leader remained silent. Monserrate and Mayor expected some solution for garbage disposal but they did not get it. Stephen Dias Dona Paula Date: 1st April 2016