Roque Dias
Margao
In the absence of a full-fledged garbage treatment plant at Sonsoddo, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is spending a staggering Rs 44 lakh every month merely on collecting and transporting the waste generated in the town.
Of this, around Rs 30 lakh goes towards payments to two waste collection contractors handling garbage in Margao and Fatorda, while another Rs 14 lakh is spent on transporting wet waste from Margao to the waste treatment plant at Cacora in Curchorem, nearly 30 km away. This translates to an average daily expenditure of about Rs 1.46 lakh on waste management.
Margao has been generating around 40 tonnes of wet waste and 15 to 20 tonnes of dry waste every day for the past two decades.
“The civic body has squandered huge amounts of taxpayers’ money on waste collection and transportation under the guise of emergency services,” alleged a former councillor and BJP critic.
Citizens say the mounting expenditure highlights the civic body’s failure to establish a fully functional waste treatment plant despite having both land and financial resources. According to them, it is a glaring example of the lack of vision and commitment needed to resolve Margao’s long-pending garbage crisis.
Residents have also criticised the BJP-led council for failing during its five-year term to operationalise the waste treatment plant proposed at Sonsoddo, around eight kilometres from the MMC office.
With the term of the present councillors ending this month and municipal elections delayed, the state government has issued an ordinance appointing administrators to 11 municipalities. Citizens are now hoping the administrator appointed to MMC will address the mounting costs and bring a long-term solution. “The costly dependence on the Cacora plant is a stark reminder of the council’s inability to resolve the Sonsoddo garbage issue once and for all, despite having the time and opportunity. There is no guarantee Cacora will continue accepting Margao’s waste indefinitely,” said Savio Coutinho, former chairperson of MMC. “Another five-year term has passed amid promises, and Madgavkars are running out of patience,” he added.
Residents point out that the municipality appears to be focusing more on procuring new trucks for transporting waste, signalling little urgency in setting up durable local infrastructure for treatment and disposal.
MMC recently commissioned a 10-tonne-per-day gasification plant for dry waste at Sonsoddo at a cost of Rs 7.3 crore. However, locals say the facility addresses only part of the problem, as it cannot process wet waste.
“The plant does not handle all categories of garbage and therefore cannot be seen as a complete solution to Margao’s perennial waste crisis,” residents said.
Margao residents have expressed anguish over what they describe as a massive drain on public funds.
“Taxpayers’ money cannot be spent like this. It should instead be invested in permanent local infrastructure,” said senior citizen John Fernandes, echoing a sentiment widely shared in the town.
When contacted, newly appointed administrator for the municipality, Additional Collector Srineth Kothwale assured to study the matter and accordingly attempt to resolve the issue.
