MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday snubbed plans to hand over the maintenance of the material recovery facility (MRF) sites at Cunchelim and Assagao to a selected agency and called for tenders to decide on the matter.
MMC Chairperson Shubhangi Vaigankar informed the special council meeting that a private agency ‘Responsible Earth Foundation’ had approached the civic body and expressed its wish to maintain the two MRF sites.
“A private agency handling the maintenance of the MRF sites will be of immense help to us. They are experts and well-equipped in disposing of the waste in a much better way,” Vaigankar said.
Councilor Shashank Narvekar informed that a similar private agency was appointed some years back to handle the huge waste piled up at Assagao site but instead of clearing the place the agency left huge mountains of waste on the site.
“It was like digging a gold mine for the agency. Whatever was beneficial for them was picked up and the unwanted stuff was left behind which created huge mountains of unwanted waste on the site,” Narvekar said.
“We need to know what is the expertise of the agency and if they have handled such sites before,” he added.
Other councillors also were of the opinion that it would be better to appoint an agency by inviting tenders.
