the goan I network
VASCO
A team of councillors from the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday afternoon inspected the garbage treatment plant at Sada and were surprised to find the biogas plant non-functional.
MMC Chairperson Nandadeep Raut along with the MMC Waste Management Committee consisting of MMC councillors Bhavna Bhosle, Sandesh Mesta and Nilesh Navelkar, MMC inspectors and staff were present for the inspection.
Later, a repair team was summoned to the site to check the status of the biogas plant. MMC councillors claimed that while the biogas plant was non-functional and had mechanical issues, the tanks were also damaged.
The MMC on Thursday had decided to enhance the capacity of the present biogas plant from 5 tonnes to 30 tonnes per day. During the discussion, some MMC councillors insisted on an inspection before going ahead with the proposal.
“We have carried out an inspection and we have seen that garbage from even a single house cannot be processed in this biogas plant,” MMC councillor Sandesh Mesta told reporters.
“The plant is non-functional. I have requested Raut to either shift the garbage or install a higher capacity plant to get rid of this mess,” said Mesta.
MMC councillor Nilesh Navelkar said it was a right decision to inspect the biogas plant before enhancing its capacity, as the biogas plant was found to have mechanical issues. “The MMC has already wasted around Rs 3 crores of taxpayers money on this plant and we don’t want to waste any more money by enhancing its capacity, when the present plant itself is not-functional. We have seen the tanks broken and we have decided that we will take the next step only after getting all details. We will do what is best for the public without wasting further money on this plant,” Navelkar added.
MMC receives proposal to treat 50 tonnes
of unsegregated garbage per day
VASCO: Stating that the MMC has received yet another proposal to treat around 50 tonnes of unsegregated garbage per day, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Nandadeep Raut on Friday said the council would place the proposal Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
Speaking to reporters on MMC’s plans to upgrade its infrastructure at the garbage treatment plant at Sada, Raut said the MMC has three baling machines but was still short of these machines. “We propose to buy three additional bailing machines here. We have a shed which will be provided by Goa Shipyard Limited. We have also resolved to buy a forklift and after the forklift is procured, the present capacity of the baling machines to cater to 350 kgs per day will increase to around 550 kgs per day and make things easy for us to reduce dry waste.”
MMC meets with hotel, restaurant owners
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Nandadeep Raut on Friday convened a joint meeting with hotel and restaurant owners along with companies offering waste disposal management units, to work out a solution to tackle garbage in the port town.
Speaking to reporters, Raut said he had placed various proposals to hotel and restaurant owners, wherein they could use a mechanism to treat their own garbage. Raut also assured to put forth a proposal to the government to offer subsidies on the purchase of such garbage disposal units to tackle garbage in Vasco city. “Each of these hotels and restaurants in the port town generate around 100-150 kgs of garbage a day. This garbage must be treated by these outlets themselves, to avoid additional load on MMC and the garbage treatment plant at Sada.”
“I also introduced a few companies to these big hotel and restaurant outlets. One such proposal placed by these companies to hotel and restaurant outlets involved the conversion of garbage to cooking gas. This is quite interesting as it is a win-win situation for the hotels,” said Raut.
“If such proposal is accepted by hotel and restaurant owners, it will reduce the garbage load on MMC. I hope these proposals are accepted by hotel owners and they buy these units.”
Raut said he would also want to extend this facility to small eateries and gaddas and fast food kiosks, whereby they can use it for their benefits while disposing off garbage by themselves. “If required, I will definitely put forth a proposal to the government to offer some schemes and subsidies to buy such units, if the cost price is beyond the budget for some outlets. But definitely, we are working out ways to tackle garbage in the port town,” said Raut.
