MARGAO
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has on Friday told the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar to prepare an action plan in respect of the operation of the controversial bio-methanation plant.
What’s interesting to note is that the MMC made a submission before the GSPCB that the civic body has applied to the Board on November 24 last for consent to operate the 5TPD bio-methanation plant at SGPDA market, Margao under the provisions of Water and Air Act. The application made by the civic body for consent to operate last week, however, assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the bio-methanation plant was inaugurated with much fanfare exactly two years ago in November 2021.
Making his appearance before the GSPCB Member Secretary on Friday noon as per the directions issued by the Board, the Chief Officer submitted a compliance report on the functioning of the bio-methanation, including the contentious issue of discharge of the slurry generated by the plant.
The Chief Officer submitted to the Board to drop or recall the show cause notice issued to the MMC on the plant.
Taking cognizance of the GSPCB’s directions, the CO said the council has issued various directions to M/s Urja Bio System Pvt Ltd the concessionaire. Acting on the directions issued by the council, he said the opening at the rear site has been closed by providing concrete side wall. He said M/s Urja Bio System Pvt Ltd have extended the waste loading floor Area of 5 TPD plant in order to avoid the flow of leachete outside the premises. “The firm has also completed the surrounding area within the periphery of compound by providing plain cement concrete to maintain cleanliness in and around the 5TPD bio-methanation plant,” the CO said.
On the contentious issue of discharge of digested slurry generated by the plant, the MMC CO submitted the slurry was earlier disposed through the night soil tanker to PWD sewage treatment plant at Sirvodem, Margao. He, however, said the PWD had stated allowing the MMC to dispose the leachate at the designated sewage chamber and also at the sewage plant, citing reasons of high content of COD and BOD.
Saying the PWD officials have told the Council to make its own arrangements to dispose of the slurry, the CO said the Council has written a letter to the Goa Waste Management Corporation to treat the slurry at the Cacora waste treatment plant, but a reply is awaited by the civic body.
Stiff opposition for another plant
MARGAO: Goa Forward chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday upped the ante against the controversial bio-methanation plant, demanding that the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) reject the Margao Municipal Council’s proposal to set up a second bio-methanation plant in the SGPDA wholesale fish market.
Saying that several reports and inspections have revealed that the current bio-methanation plant in the PDA retail market has failed catastrophically in fulfilling its environmental and financial promises, Sardesai in a letter to the SGPDA member secretary listed a host of issues, including non-compliance of GSPCB directives to comply, particularly with waste disposal regulations.
