PERNEM
The state-of-the-art garbage treatment plant at Pernem, which has a technology to convert plastic waste into fuel, is in dilapidated condition for the last five years and the machinery inside is rusted.
The half completed plant was set up five years ago by the Pernem Municipal Council and GSUDA by spending Rs 3 crore. If it was made functional, it would have become the first garbage treatment plant in the State having technology to convert plastic into fuel.
According to sources, former PMC chairperson Dr Vasudev Deshprabhu inaugurated the plant in half-completed stage, but no efforts were made to make it fully functional. Politicians from Pernem assured to take up the issue, but failed.
Sources said the project was handed over to a Chennai-based company for 30 years on contract and 8,500 sq mtrs of land was availed to install machinery to convert plastic waste into fuel. The Pernem plant would be the second one for the company. If the project becomes a reality, Pernem would become the second in the country converting plastic to fuel.
In a recent Pernem Municipal Council meeting, this issue was discussed and it was decided to visit the company’s Chennai plant for according a green signal to the Goa project after a proper study.
Speaking to The Goan, PMC Chairperson Usha Nagvekar said, “The final decision will be taken after visiting Chennai to ensure whether this project is good or bad and if it will benefit PMC or not.” We are not unanimous on this decision. First, we will visit Chennai, added Nagvekar.
Former Pernem sarpanch Narayan alias Zila Mayekar said the plant in Pernem is a living example of how public expenditure is wasted by the municipal administration. “Garbage is strewn all along the roads and it is later spread by stray animals. The local MLA and tourism minister should try to make this project functional,” he demanded.
Councillor from the opposition panel, Upendra Deshprabhu said the councillors were not taken into confidence while handing over the municipal land to the company for construction of the plant.
“Since there was no contract between the company and PMC, how could the former carry out construction without taking NoC from the council? We had raised this issue in a PMC meeting, but the chief officer failed to give us a satisfactory reply,” said Deshprabhu.
