OLD GOA
Showing its resolve to set up a waste plant at Bainguinim despite opposition from the public and its own MLA, the government has notified 1.7 lakh square meters of land at Bainguinim as waste management area.
The notification issued by Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management states that the area of 1,71,312 square metres would be used to set up 100 tonne per day solid waste treatment plant.
Further, the powers of the local authorities vis-Ã -vis control and erection of buildings, levying and collection of taxes, fees among others have been ceased.
And local authorities recovering taxes in the notified area will be compensated by the government to the extent of last financial year’s collection of taxes, for a period of five years.
Meanwhile, the notification has caught opponents of the waste plant off guard, particularly as the Congress-turned-BJP MLA Rajesh Faldessai has been reiterating his opposing to the plant come what may.
The Goan tried to contact Faldessai for his say in the matter but without success.
Pornnem Goencho Nagrik Manch President Ambar Amonkar, who doubles as panch of Se Old Goa, categorically stated that he would continue opposition to the plant.
When pointed out that the government has come out with a notification, Amonkar said that it was also the case with IIT, which was later withdrawn.
“The government had come out with notification for IIT too,” he quipped.
It may be recalled that before switching to the BJP, Faldessai had organised a protest along with the locals and had vowed that he would bring thousands of people on the street if the government went ahead with the project.
After joining the BJP, Faldessai had reiterated to The Goan that he would stand by the people in opposing the waste plant at Bainguinim while citing the presence of historic churches, temples, lakes, educational institutes in and around the area as reason for his opposition.
Protests against the garbage treatment plant have been raging with people demanding shifting of the plant to some other site.
The area also witnessed vociferous protests from people living in residential apartments near the proposed plant saying they will be affected the most.
There are more than a thousand apartments within a 200 metre radius of the garbage plant while the road leading to the plant also has apartments on either side.
Locals also say that the garbage treatment plant is close to a temple, a major private hospital, a lake and most importantly the UNESCO-recognised Old Goa Church complex, which is a tourist hotspot.
