Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has moved the goalposts. Speaking to the media after a visit to the site of the Rs 146 crore garbage plant under construction on the Saligao-Calangute plateau, he said it would cater to garbage generated in North Goa. The earlier plan was to use the plant for garbage generated by coastal villages.
If the plant is large enough to handle waste generated by all talukas in the north then it would be a boon for the State, provided the technology delivers on all parameters. But the fact that its scope has been widened will be a sour point with activists who were opposed to it. Does this also mean that a plant will no longer be needed at Bainguinim? Successful operation of the plant will hopefully spur Curchorem into giving the green signal for construction of a similar plant in the South which is desperately needed.
Simultaneously, the government along with village panchayats must also create garbage collection systems with segregation at source. The main structure of the plant is in place and completion of the project is slated for March next year. Goa is waiting with bated breath to see this project succeed for in it lies the hope of a permanent solution to the waste problem.
