the goan I network
MARGAO
With the remediation of the legacy dump in full swing at Sonsodo, the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) Dr Tariq Thomas has set the ball rolling for the Margao Municipal Council to discuss and resolve the entire gamut of solid waste management issue, including collection and disposal of the 50 tonnes of wet and dry waste generated in the commercial capital.
The DMA mulled a carrot and stick policy to get the bulk waste generators set up their own facility in their housing societies, while suggesting to the civic body to incentivize the households on the sanitation tax front.
After descending on the municipal body on Saturday morning to guide and assist the city fathers as well as the municipal officials, the DMA called for floating the tender for the five-tonne bio-methane plant on land admeasuring 600 square meters at the SGPDA market.
The DMA also touched on the issue of tackling the waste finding its way from the village to the blacks spots in the city.
The DMA had as many as three meetings, one with the city fathers led by Chairperson Pooja Naik, another with a team of civic officials headed by Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar and a joint meeting on how to address the bulk waste issue. “My brief in the civic today was to discuss the entire gamut of solid waste management issue, including dry and wet waste in the city. We have discussed each of the issues and how to put the strategy in place to take things forward. I am happy that the MMC has extended its full cooperation to address the burning issue,” Dr Thomas said.
On the bulk waste generators, the DMA pointed out that it is mandatory for these to set up their own waste treatment facilities. “There are around 60-70 bulk waste generators, which have 40-plus apartments. Besides, there are hotels which also generate waste in bulk,” he said.
Recalling that the High Court has issued clear directions to the bulk waste generators to set up their facility, the DMA said the civic body has decided to assist the generators by offering incentives, including some relief on the sanitation tax.
On the five-tonne bio-methane plant, the DMA has said the GSUDA has cleared the technical specifications of the plant, adding that the MMC has been told to tender the project. “Since the SGDPA wholesale fish and the retail markets are bulk generators, it has been decided to set up the bio-methane plant in the PDA market after the planning body makes available the land,” he said, adding that the second bio-methane plant will take shape in the future as part of the decision to decentralize the waste treatment.
As far as the medical waste is concerned, Dr Thomas insisted that the responsibility of disposing the water lies with the generator. He, however, hastened to add that the problem will be solved once the GMC installs the incinerator by January-end.
