Row over cost of bio-methanation plants brings GWMC and GSUDA under scanner

Questions raised how both agencies came out with different rates for plants having same specifications

THE GOAN NETWORK | OCTOBER 26, 2020, 12:07 AM IST

MARGAO 
The massive row over the cost of the bio-methanation plants proposed to be set up by the Margao Municipal Council has thrown up a question or two and brought two government departments -- Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) and Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) under the scanner.

That’s not all. Government of India’s e-market place, GeM portal, has also come under the scanner with GWMC coming on record to state that the agency has worked out the rates of the bio-methanation plants.

It is not out of place to mention here that while GWMC is headed by the state’s Chief Minister, GSUDA is an agency working under the Ministry of Urban Development. Both the agencies have come out with different rates for the bio-methanation plants, leaving citizens confused and throwing up a host of questions on the estimates.

Otherwise, consider this. A glance at GSUDA’s tender notice inviting bids to supply, install, test and commission 5TPD bio-methanation plant with power generation with operation and maintenance for five years for Sankhali Municipal Council shows that the plant will cost around Rs 2.29 crore.

Approvals given by the Urban Development to the Margao Municipal Council a month ago for three bio-methanation plants show that the cost of each of these bio-methanation plants does not cross Rs 2.60 crore.

Interestingly, preliminary estimates prepared by GWMCto set up seven bio-methanation plants as per the requirement of Margao Municipal Council indicates that each of these plants would cost around Rs 4.81 crore.

What has triggered a massive row over the cost of the bio-methanation plants is the two sets of estimates prepared by the two government departments, GSUDA and GWMC, throwing up questions how the agencies have worked out different rates for similar plants with similar specifications.

GWMC officials pointed out that the agency has cited the quotations and rates available on GeM portal of the Government of India.

An official informed that the rate towards installation and operation for five years of modular 5 TPD bio-methanation plant is as available on GeM portal and the same is considered for preparing estimates, besides the Goa PWD GSR rates.

The official further pointed out that GWMC has considered floating the tender on GeM portal so as to eliminate the time for tendering, considering the acute situation in dealing with fresh waste at Sonsodo facility.

In a letter to MMC Chief Officer, GWMC Managing Director Levinson Martins had pointed out that estimates towards the shed and other site development works have been prepared as per the plinth area rates, while the estimates towards the retaining wall have been prepared as per the GSR rates.

“Estimation towards the installation of the 5TPD pre-fabricated bio-methanation plants including operation and maintenance for five years and wheeled skid steer loader is taken from government e-marketplace GeM portal),” Martins stated in his letter.


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