MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly to hold a meeting with the high-powered committee before February 10 to decide on setting up of a waste treatment plant at Sonsodo, near Margao.
He also said that all the three legislators from South Goa “ Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardesai and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco “ would be taken into confidence before taking a final decision on the matter.
“It is a fact that we need to clear the garbage at Sonsodo. The decision whether to set up seven bio-methanation plants or just one plant at the site will be taken at the high-powered committee which will
meet before February 10,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was responding to a query raised by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on detailed plans of the government in cleaning the Sonsodo garbage dump.
Sawant said the government was serious about tackling the garbage menace at Sonsodo and would do everything possible to clear the dump and construct a waste treatment plant at the site.
Earlier, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo informed the House that the remediation process was going on in full force and will be completed by May 2021.
He said around 1,153 cubic metres RDF has been lifted till date and approximately 60,000 RDF was still lying at the site.
He assured the House that the government was planning to set up a good garbage plant at Sonsodo which will be in the lines of the Saligao treatment plant which is managed by the Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC).
“First, we had thought of setting up of seven bio-methanation plants at the site. But now, we are going to set up one plant of 75 tonne capacity which will tackle waste from Fatorda, Margao, Curtorim and even from Navelim,” Lobo said.
Intervening in the discussion, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai questioned the changing stance of the government on setting up of treatment plants at the site. “First, you agreed to set up seven bio-methanation plants and the site and now you plan to bring one centralised plant at Sonsodo. How can you take a decision without taking us into confidence?” Sardesai questioned.
He said the Margao Municipal Council has already paid money from the 14th Finance Commission to set up the waste treatment plants at the site.
Opposition MLA Digambar Kamat also questioned the government’s decision to set up one plant without informing the concerned MLAs.
The Chief Minister conceded that monies from the 14th Finance Commission have been deposited and the file was moved to the DMA but was awaiting administrative nod.
He assured to hold a discussion with the high-powered committee and take all the three MLAs into confidence in the matter.
