the goan I network
MARGAO
When this question was posed to the Chief Minister during his visit to the Sonsodo waste dump yard on Thursday, Parrikar was evasive, even going to the extent of saying that he is not bothered about what is existing and where. “I should not bother about the existing things. If I can solve the problem, my target is to solve the garbage problem across the State within two years. The result will be seen within two months,” Parrikar said, without commenting on the future of the existing waste treatment plant at Sonsodo.
What’s significant to note is the fact the government’s announcement has come at a time when Fomento Green’s land fill site is taking shape at the plant site, which was hit by delays during Parrikar’s tenure as Chief Minister post-2012 election.
That’s not all. Parrikar’s assertion that the state-of-the-art waste treatment plant in Salcete will have the capacity to handle mixed waste has come at a time when the Margao Municipal Council is on the verge of outsourcing collection of door-to-door waste with emphasis on segregation of the waste at source.
Incidentally, when The Goan called up Fatorda MLA and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to shed light on the government’s stand on the existing waste treatment plant run by Fomento Green, he preferred to decline commenting on
the matter.
Fomento Green has reacted cautiously to the Chief Minister’s statement of setting up a state-of-the-art treatment plant to handle Salcete’s waste. Fomento Green CEO Sridhar Kamat only sought to remind that Fomento Green has inked an agreement with the Margao Municipal Council to run and operate the plant for 25 years. “Fomento Green will be committed to fulfill the provisions of the agreement. And, I hope and trust that the Margao Municipal Council will honour the agreement,” Sridhar said.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister’s statement has come at a time when work is in progress to construct a land fill site for the waste treatment plant at Sonsodo. The land fill site did not take shape due to the inordinate delay by the TCP during the last term to grant approvals for the hill cutting to make way for the land fill site.
