the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has put its plan to set up a new garbage treatment plant in Cunchelim, Mapusa on the back-burner, at least for the moment. The decision of the government to upgrade the
Saligao treatment plant appears to have weighed in on the change of mind, as the council expects its wet waste to be treated at the Saligao plant once the capacity is increased.
In the meanwhile, the council has decided to set up an organic waste converter in the municipal market, ostensibly to treat wet waste generated there. All the remnants of meat, fish and vegetables generated in the market will be treated in the organic waste converter. The converter, which is expected to treat two tons of waste per day, will cost the council Rs 7,000 per day which works to around Rs 25 lakh per annum.
MMC chairperson Ryan Braganza said the process of treating the garbage through the converter is clean and will not emit any foul smell. “If this method of treating wet waste is successful, we can replicate it in other parts of the city,” Braganza said.
He said the converter does not require big space and will in all probability be set up next to the beef stalls in the market.
Interestingly, the MMC had acquired around 32,000 sq mts of land in Cunchelim to set up a garbage treatment plant facility for Mapusa. The council had also passed a resolution to construct the treatment plant in Cunchelim more than a year back. The MMC had in principle agreed to a proposal of Gurgaon-based firm “ Observing I Ecotech “ to set up the plant.
“We have now decided to use the land in Cunchelim to set up a cattle pound. A section of the area will also be used to park various abandoned vehicles lying in the city,” the chairperson said.
He further said that since it was a huge area, the municipality will use part of the space to sort out dry waste, and the wet waste will
be sent to the Saligao treatment plant.
