VALPOI WARD 7 RESIDENTS OPPOSE GARBAGE TREATMENT PLANT: FEARS WATER CONTAMINATION

VALPOI: The residents of ward number 7 of the Valpoi Municipality are up in arms against the setting up of the garbage treatment plant, for which the land admeasuring 40,000 sq mt has been acquired.

Objecting to the garbage treatment plant at the site, councillor of the ward, Ms Fahmida Khan, along with locals on Friday submitted a representation to the mamlatdar of Satari, Mr Satish Desai.

The representation signed by more than 200 locals strongly objects to the setting up of the garbage treatment plant in the close vicinity of the residential area. Around 80 families live in the area and use 10 wells as a source of water for domestic purpose during frequent water shortage faced by them. They also said that if the treatment plant is set up, the water table will get affected and the water source will be polluted.

They residents also noted that the treatment plant is very close to the new Government Hospital and in the long run, the project, like Sonsodo, will be used for dumping rather than treating the garbage. It will create unhygienic and polluted environment, they said.
Speaking to the media after submitting the representation, Ms Khan said that she supports the cause and will be with the people. She further said that the residents are against the setting up of garbage treatment plant and she will go with people’s decision.

A youth of ward no 7 said that after intermittent water supply, now a garbage treatment plant is planned in the close vicinity of the houses of the residents. He said, "Officials assure that the plant will be safe, but in the long run, will the efficiency of the plant remain the same?"

The locals strongly objected and urged the concerned authority to restudy the project before it is too late. They also demanded that the VMC change the site or else they would adopt other measures to stop the project.

The copies of the representations were also addressed to the chairperson of VMC, Minister for Urban Development and the Health Minister of Goa