Says as per court order, only segregated waste should be allowed
the goan I network
PANAJI
He questioned the government over paying an amount of nearly Rs 370 crore as annual grant and gross annual operational support grant over a period of 10 years as against Rs 145.95 crore spent by the contractor on setting up the plant.
Kamat had earlier sought to know the amount to be paid by the State Government to the contractor under various components.
Though the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has not spent any money on setting up the plant as the project is implemented on DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate and transfer) basis, an amount of Rs 3,74,38,747 has been spent for constructing compound wall and approach road.
Additionally, an amount of Rs 3,40,14,941 has been spent for acquiring land admeasuring 8,080 square metres and 1,38,500 square metres from Saligao and Calangute Comunidades.
In her reply, Science and Technology Minister Alina Saldanha said, “The project cost is Rs 145.95 crore. The annual capital grant that will be paid to the operator once the trial runs are over is Rs 29.9 crore. Similarly, gross annual operational support grant of 70 crore over 10 years will be paid subject to achievement of the prescribed standards.”
Kamat pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) judgment on Saligao plants requires them to follow the High Court order and receive only segregated waste. “I have been given a reply that you have been receiving mixed garbage. Who has authorised you to do so? Additionally, you are also receiving garbage from beach and highway cleaning contractors and other places. This garbage is also mixed. The contractors are paid separately for collecting and disposing the waste they pick up,” he stated.
Saldanha in her reply said it was the decision of the high-level task force to accept the garbage from highway and beach cleaning contractors. “The plant is designed to handle 100 tonnes of waste per day. 25 panchayats have been selected to deposit their waste on the tipping floor of the plant. Unfortunately, only 13 panchayats have been depositing the waste while 12 have failed to do so. The quantum of waste at the plant is less than what is needed,” Saldanha mentioned.
Coming to Saldanha’s rescue, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that the plant is one of its kind in the country and the State government has not invested any money into it. “We will equity and operational charges every year which is about 400 crore in 10 years. If we look at the cost 10 years from now, it is not much. In case, if the plant fails we are not responsible, so we have nothing to lose,” Parsekar said. He informed that 32 tonnes of waste has been collected from panchayats in May, 46 tonnes in June, 59 tonnes in July and by end of August it will go upto 68-70 tonnes. “Once panchayats get used to sending the garbage, the requirement of the plant will be fulfilled,” said a hopeful Parsekar.
