the goan I network
MARGAO
Ahead of Fomento’s termination notice that comes into effect on August 9, the Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday made it clear to the latter that the Concessionaire is required to hand over the Sonsodo solid waste management facility to the civic body and may agitate its monetary claims in arbitration.
The MMC reply to Fomento’s host of letters as well as the petition filed before the district court assumes significance as it has come just two days before the termination notice will end on August 9.
Fomento is insisting that it will shut down the plant after the deadline if the civic body fails to make the termination payment pegged at around Rs 14 crore.
In its eight-page reply sent to Fomento on Wednesday and which will be filed in the district court when the company’s petition comes up for hearing on August 9, the MMC has maintained that the reliefs prayed by the Concessionaire, if granted, would play havoc with the solid waste management and treatment within the municipal area, affecting the life and health of over one lakh population. Moreover, the civic body contended that the reliefs sought by Fomento, including the one that the company should not be dispossessed of the waste treatment facility and the civic body should stop sending waste to the plant after August 9, if granted will put the public in distress.
After the civic body dispatched the reply to Fomento office on Wednesday noon, Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai was closeted with the municipal lawyer Adv Maria Mesquita and other officials to take stock of the situation.
In fact, Fomento in its letter to the civic body sent last week had made it clear that the company will be taking necessary steps to shut down the plant after August 9 since the Concession agreement shall stand terminated on that day, while reiterating that the question of handing over possession of the project facility to the civic body will not arise unless full payment of termination to the Concessionaire is made.
The Concessionaire had told the civic body that it will take such steps to protect its interests under the Concession Agreement and in particular that possession of the project facility is not wrested from the company by the MMC till it is paid the termination payment in full and no new solid waste is delivered to the plant after August 9.
