Projects worth more than Rs 2,150 crore lined up by the sewage corporation
The Sewage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of GoaLtd (SIDCGL), which was once considered as worthless and also advised to bescrapped has now transformed into a most sought after corporation.
With more than Rs 2,150 crore projects lined up by thecorporation, which would change the face of the sewerage system in the State,SIDCGL has become an attractive corporation.
In urban areas out of 14 municipalities only Panjim, Vascoand recently part of Margao is connected to a sewerage system. Rest of thestate either discharges its sewerage in the open or into the septic tanks thatis primarily responsible to contaminate ground water.
SIDCGL was viewed as insignificant corporation three yearsago, until it took initiative to work out Detailed Project Report (DPR) tocover entire Cortalim constituency (now split into Cortalim and Dabolim),Navelim and Porvorim.
A year back Ponda, Old Goa were also added in the DPR listunder the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) scheme and the NationalRiver Conservation Plan to save rivers from sewerage effluents.
Under the scheme the corporation has worked out DPRs forplaces that discharge its sewerage into the three rivers in the State --Mandovi, Zuari and Sal.
Initially, SIDCGL had shortlisted three constituenciesCortalim, Navelim and Porvorim, which are mostly suburbs in its demographicalnature with an estimated project cost of Rs 950. A year back Ponda and Old Goawere also added in the list with project cost estimated at Rs 600 crore.
Besides a DPR for the south coastal belt from Majorda toCavelossim was prepared which was estimated at Rs 600 crore.
“Sewerage is priority sector considering the water usageratio. Nearly 80 percent of water goes into the sewerage system while only 20percent is used for drinking. With so much amount of sewerage water released inthe open and into the rivers, we have decided to invest heavily in thissector,” said Managing Director of SIDCGL, Arvind Patil.
He said that DRP of the three constituencies Cortalim,Porvorim and Navelim worth Rs 950 crore has been completed and was sent to theNational River Conservation Board of MoEF.
“DPR of Ponda worth Rs 400 crore and Old Goa comprising ofKadamba Plateau and Corlim Industrial estate worth Rs 200 crore is alsocompleted,” Patil said.
Though the DPR of Navelim, Porvorim and Cortalim wascompleted in 2010 the MoEF is yet to respond and release funds.
However, the state government has given its nod for all thethree projects and in the wake MoEF delaying in releasing the funds, thecorporation has intended to approach, Housing and Urban Development CorporationLimited (HUDCO) for funds.
“Since HUDCO interest rate is higher the CM has advised usto obtain loan from EDC. EDC has in principle agreed to allocate Rs 200 crore.Rs 100 crore would be released in the first stage to implement the project in aphased manner,” Patil said.
