the goan I network
MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council faces an acid test over its decision to opt for the adoption of Thermophillic biomethanation technology as the civic officials are believed to have knocked the doors of the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) to certify the technology approved by the Margao city fathers.
Twenty-days after the Council at its meeting held on July 30 gave its stamp of approval for the adoption of the Thermophillic Biomethanation process, the same technology being used in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, the MMC administration is believed to have now dashed a letter to the Corporation to guide the civic body on the adoption of the technology in the city. “This technology is new to Goa and given that the civic body has no expertise to ascertain the viability of the technology, the civic body has moved the Corporation for guidance how to go about with the matter,” informed a MMC official in the know.
That the Municipal administration has moved the Waste Management Corporation indicates that the officials do not want to take any risk on the adoption of the new technology to treat the waste generated in the city. It means that the MMC’s decision giving approval for the procurement of two containerised waste processing plants, each costing Rs 2 crore, which is expected to treat 20 tonnes of mixed waste every day, is unlikely to materialise at least in the near future as the technology has to undergo the mandatory test from the Goa State Pollution Control Board and the Department of Environment.
Sources in the MMC further informed that the civic body may be required to approach the government agencies for technical and financial sanction for the procurement of the two containerised waste treatment plants as the cost of the plants is estimated around Rs 4 crore. “Since the amount of the proposed waste treatment plants is pegged around Rs 4 crore, the MMC will have no option than to approach the government bodies for financial sanction,” an official said.
Margao city fathers had mooted that containerised waste processing plant may help the civic body to address the burning garbage problem, more so the mixed waste that finds its way at the 75 dark spots dotting the city.
The civic body had apparently opted for the two plants after Fomento had moved for the termination of the Concession agreement and had threatened to shut down the solid waste treatment plant if the civic body fails to make payment of the termination payment pegged around Rs 14 crore.
