MARGAO
In a major development, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has told the Margao Municipal Council to pay the PDA dues amounting to Rs 1.67 crore towards the biogas treatment plant installed in the PDA retail market.
SGPDA Member Secretary Sheikh Ali pointed out that the PDA meeting held on October 3, 2013, had given the go-ahead to set up the biogas plant in the PDA retail market complex that the plant would solve the wet garbage problem in the retail market and also the project would fetch some revenue to the authority.
“After detail deliberation, the SGPDA had decided to take up the biogas project as a model project by DTPL on the premise the proponent will develop the project on BOOT Basis,” Ali stated in the letter.
He further said it was understood by the PDA that the profit @ 20% will be shared with SGPDA which will be used for the improvement of the SGPDA market complex.
“The authority was directed to make a suitable agreement between SGPDA and DTPL for revenue sharing maintenance and transfer of the assets. Presently, the project is under MMC with the agreement of an operations and maintenance contract with DTPL for five years. This office has not received any revenue to date from this biogas treatment plant nor any rent of the land allotted to this project from MMC,” the Member secretary said.
The PDA member secretary further pointed out that the aim of setting up the project is to collect the wet waste generated daily in the retail and wholesale fish market under SGPDA.
While the plant was commissioned in 2021 by the MMC and the project in charge M/s Deer Tree Technologies Pvt Ltd, the Member Secretary said the SGPDA has not been made a part of the operation and maintenance of the project installed in PDA property.
“There is no MoU signed between SGPDA and MMC and the project in charge,” he said, adding that no wet waste generated daily in the SGPDA retail market is being processed at the plant.
