Locals worry as garbage on Sal banks uncleared

COLVA: With the monsoon due anytime now, residents of Chinchinim are worried as the tonnes of garbage dumped on the banks of the river Sal in Sucaldem is yet to be cleared. The mounds of waste attract pests and have become a health hazard for residents.
Acting sarpanch Valentino Baretto said that since May 11, 10 tonnes of garbage, mainly plastic, have been cleared away by Goa Waste Management Corporation. “But much more is remaining. I am unsure whether the garbage will be cleared before the monsoon, but we are trying our best,” he said.
In February, based on two complaints from villagers about burning of dry, non-biodegradable waste, the pollution control board inspected the site. The inspection revealed huge dumps of mixed garbage amid the mangroves and low-lying area along the banks of river, which amounts to a violation of rule 15 of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2018.
The Chinchinim-Deussua biodiversity management committee (CDBMC), too, shot off representations to the local primary health centre, pollution control board and the panchayat urging them to clear the dump. The river being an eco-sensitive area, more efforts must be put in. If the rain water washes the garbage washed into the river, it will be disastrous for the riverine ecosystem, its note stated.
In March Chinchinim locals raised the issue at a gram sabha and demanded that the panchayat initiate steps to clear up the garbage.
In April 2019, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) directed the Chinchinim panchayat to clear the garbage within 10 days and to recover the cost from the polluter, a local, Benny D’Costa. A request was also made to the South Goa collector to recover a fine amout of Rs 25,000 from the panchayat.
Reacting to this, Baretto said that it is easy for the GSPCB to issue deadlines. Baretto further said that till date, nearly Rs 80,000 has been spent on the clearing up and that the panchayat will recover the amount from D’costa.
The issue dates back to the 2016, when due to pressure from villagers, a piggery run by D’Costa was shut down. D’Costa, however, continued bringing in waste from hotels from neighbouring villagers and dumping it at the same site.
In December 2018, following complaints from villagers of unbearable stench and flies invading their houses, a joint inspection was carried out and the panchayat reports clearly blamed the mess on the river bank.
According to the site inspection report dated December 12, 2018, D’Costa has dumped scrap material near his residence and erected temporary sheds to house labourers working at the scrapyard. “The water body is contaminated. Mosquitoes, insects, stray cattle are seen attracted to wet garbage in the open,” the inspection report had stated.
The garbage is then segregated like plastics, bottles, glass pieces. Plastic is baled converted into Refused Deprived Fuel (RDF) and sent to cement industry in Karnataka.