Minister for Ports and Waste Management Michael Lobo on Monday said all documentation to set in motion the process of calling for bids to build a solid waste management plant at Bainguinim is ready.
The plant is being proposed to handle up to 250 tonnes of solid waste per day primarily catering to the capital city's Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
The solid waste management plant at Bainguinim was first mooted in 2007 but ran aground after stiff resistance from locals and also sections of the hierarchy in the Catholic Church who objected to its proximity to the World Heritage site and monuments at the historic Old Goa church complex.
A 'mutt' of a Hindu seer on the periphery of the site also triggered widespread opposition to the plant in the area.
"All paper work has been completed and even the tender documents are ready," Lobo told journalists on Monday after holding a review meeting pertaining to the project with officials of his waste management ministry.
It may be recalled that CCP mayor Uday Madkaikar has said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on August 27 assured to float a tender for construction of 250 TPD solid waste Treatment plant at Bainguinim within ten days.
The CCP, along with Panaji MLA Atanasio Monseratte held a meeting with the Chief Minister on Thursday to discuss the issue of the garbage treatment plant.
"In the meeting, Sawant assured to float a tender for the Baiguinim plant within ten days", Madkaikar had said, adding, “We are hopeful that this plant will be completed before the commencement of the tourism season. If we get a good garbage treatment site, Panaji will be higher in the nation Index of cleanest cities.”
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) will be using the 1.71 lakh sqm land at Bainguinim to set up only a garbage treatment plant.
Bainguinim land was acquired by the state government and handed over to the CCP in early 2009 for setting up the plant. However, no work has been done yet. The civic body has handed over the land to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).
The plant will be more advanced than the Saligao treatment plant and people need not worry about bad odour from the waste, said Madkaikar.
Presently, garbage from Panaji is sent to Saligao. Some waste is also dumped at different sites. However, the high court has told CCP to stop dumping waste at different sites and treat the waste scientifically.
