MARGAO
WasteManagement Minister Michael Lobo has batted for half-a-dozen bio-methanationplants at Sonsodo to address the burning waste problem, but condition thatLeader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, MargaoMunicipal Council and the government are all on the same page.
Hefurther said the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) will forward an actionplan to the Margao Municipal Council on the plants within a week’s time.Asserting it will take around two months and a half to complete theformalities, even in the event the plants are procured under the governmente-marketplace portal, he said the plants can see the light of day aroundJanuary 2021.
Hesaid the contractor engaged by the GWMC or MMC will have to run and operate theplants for five years and generate power, which will be used at the site andthe surplus sold to a grid.
InspectingSonsodo on Wednesday “ his fourth visit so far after becoming the WasteManagement Minister last year “ along with MLAs Digambar Kamat and VijaiSardesai, MMC Chairperson Pooja Naik, Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar and GWMCManaging Director Levinson Martins , Michael said once the GWMC sends theaction plan to the MMC within a week’s time, the two MLAs and the city fathersshould take a joint call on the project.
“Ifthey all agree on the bio-methanation plants, a meeting will be arranged withChief Minister Pramod Sawant for the final approval. We can take a call whetherthe MMC should utilize the 14th Finance Commission funds or the governmentshould chip in. I think this project can see light of the day if all theplayers are on the same page,” he said.
Toa question, Michael said he is not suggesting something different from what hehad promised last time around, and added, "The only difference now is thatall the plants will be installed at Sonsodo instead of setting them up at theSGDPA markets."
Onthe technology, the Minister said a delegation comprising MLA Vijai Sardesaiand GWMC expert Joglekar had inspected the plants at Solapur some months ago.“The technology involves converting waste into energy. They are in modular formand can be installed inside the existing plant and also in the abandoned shed,”he added.
TheWaste Management Minister said while the government will go ahead with thewaste management plant at the Verna Industrial Estate on land admeasuring 1.15lakh square meters, he said it will take minimum four years for the plant totake shape, given that the government is required to conduct EIA and obtain ECbefore installing the same.
“Tillsuch time when the Verna plant takes shape, the MMC will have to go for thebio-methanation plants or the situation will worsen at Sonsodo,” he added.
“Ifeverything goes on well, we can complete the formalities in two months and ahalf. By January 2021, the contactor can start fitting the machines,” he added.
MargaoMLA Digambar Kamat has said the GWMC has proposed a number of portable plantsto address the garbage problem. “Instead of setting up plants at differentplaces, the proposal is now to set up the plants in one place. MMC will receivethe action plan by next week,” he said.FatordaMLA Vijai Sardesai has said the GWMC will take a call on the bio-methanationtechnology since the Corporation has the expertise to do so.
