With a population increase in Goa and huge tourist influx, waste management needs to be taken up on a war-footing. Tonnes of garbage gets generated on a daily basis, all over the state. With no proper system in place, this waste gets dumped into water bodies. Some of it even ends up on unused properties. The situation is grave.
Garbage collected by government authorised agencies does end up at sites identified for the purpose. But, with no proper waste treatment system, this waste poses a health hazard. Government is compelled to cover these dumps to prevent spread of diseases especially when the garbage gets water logged during the monsoons. Huge hillocks of waste can be seen piling up in different areas of Goa. Such is the grave situation.
Recently, an ultra-modern waste treatment plant was set up at Saligao, a beautiful village in North Goa. (Saligao saw garbage being dumped into a valley from surrounding areas for many years). This plant comes as a relief.
In Goa for the BRICS summit, the Union Minister for Environment Madhav Dave, visited the Saligao municipal Solid Waste Treatment Plant. He commended the state government for the state-of-the-art infrastructure and suggested that there should be more such plants for handling waste.
He further said that his ministry would provide approvals for all such plants whenever proposed.
The ultramodern waste management plant is based on German technology under the make in India programme. The facility is based on the mechanical biological treatment process with proper segregation recovery, recyclable and bio-methanation technology.
Currently, garbage from 14 villages – Calangute, Candolim, Saligao, Pilerne Marra, Parra, Anjuna, Guirim, Sangolda, Baga, Arpora, Reis Magos, Verem, Nerul and Verla Canca besides that collected from the highway shoulders is treated at the plant as per an NT report.
Garbage treatment plants should be coupled with statutory warnings for garbage dumping. If enforced, Goa will surely become clean and green once more.
Picture Credits: Navhind Times
