Is setting up of biomethanation plants the wayforward on garbage treatment in Goa? Could this new technology save thesituation for towns and villages grappling with the vexed waste issue? Or couldthis turn out to be a wasteful expenditure yet again? These are the questionsthat come to the fore as Margao Municipal Council moves towards setting up itsfirst biomethanation plant.
The civic body has issued a work order toPune-based Urja Bio System Pvt Ltd to set up one plant at the SGPDA fish marketin the commercial capital for Rs 2.40 crore with a timeline of six months forcommissioning. The civic body has taken a cautious decision in going for justone plant against the government’s approval for three such units. This means,the efficacy of this technology, which has been fairly successful in otherStates and metros like Pune, is to be tested in Goa. If we may recall here,MMC’s earlier experiments with technology like Black Hole and others haveresulted in colossal wastage of public money.
Setting up one plant will give time and insightsto study the pros and cons before deciding to set up two more such plants.However, there are critical grey areas that the civic body will have to ironout if it wants to see positive results. Garbage treatment has been failingprimarily because there is a failure in the segregation of waste at source intobiodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biomethanation plants too need segregatedwaste, otherwise, pre-treatment of non-biodegradable waste will add to costs.The MMC which has exhausted all options on this issue in the past will have towork out new ways to ride over this roadblock.
Secondly, the new plant will reduce emissions,but authorities will have to be wary of leakages of methane which can bedetrimental to the environment. Installing these plants within the city limitscould throw up hazards to the health of citizens. Thirdly, a large amount ofwater will have to be diverted to these plants, and wastewater that isgenerated will have to be dealt with.
While the process of setting up thebiomethanation plant begins, it throws open another critical issue. Are theseplants a short-term solution to a long-term problem? Where do these plantsstand vis-Ã -vis the government’s ambitious plans of setting up three otherstate-of-the-art garbage treatment plants at different locations in the State?The government has been reassuring citizens on setting up garbage treatmentplants at Verna, Cacora and Bainguinim. Waste Management Minister Michael Lobois on record stating that Goa would be garbage-free once the three plantsbecome operational. There were even plans to set up a full-fledged plant atSonsodo on the lines of Saligao. How do these biomethanation plants fit in thescheme of things?
Goa’s financial situation continues to be on adownward spiral, and any such experiments that require crores of rupees willhave to be well-studied. The government must ensure that the technology alongwith public money does not go down the drain once again.
