MAPUSA
Despite persistent opposition from local residents and elected representatives, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is preparing to reissue the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the long-delayed solid waste treatment facility at Bainguinim.
This marks the fourth attempt by the corporation to move ahead with the contentious project aimed at addressing the State’s growing waste management challenges.
The proposed plant, initially conceptualised as a 250-tonne-per-day (TPD) facility in 2019, has faced repeated setbacks due to technical, administrative and public resistance issues.
The project was subsequently scaled down to a 100-TPD capacity, with an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore, in a bid to attract more qualified bidders. However, even that effort did not result in progress as the previous tender process failed to transition beyond the qualification stage.
A senior GWMC official confirmed that a revised RFQ document has been prepared with updated eligibility criteria and relaxed conditions to broaden participation.
"We have incorporated advancements in waste management technology and ensured compliance with the latest environmental standards. This time, we hope to receive a better response," the official told The Goan on condition of anonymity.
When the RFQ was last floated in 2022, three companies were shortlisted for the project. However, due to the lapse of the proposal’s validity period, the process must now begin afresh.
The corporation is currently awaiting formal approval from the State government before issuing the new RFQ and initiating the bidding process.
"We are trying to float it at the earliest," the official said.
“This plant is crucial for Goa’s long-term waste management strategy and we are doing our best to make the terms attractive and viable for prospective developers,” he added.
Despite the administrative push, the Bainguinim project continues to face fierce opposition from residents of the area, who argue that the facility poses environmental and health risks.
Local panchayats and politicians have consistently raised objections, demanding relocation of the plant.
As the GWMC readies to re-float the RFQ, all eyes will be on how the revised terms and political climate influence the outcome of this long-standing project.
