MARGAO
The Sonsodo legacy dump still remains covered under tarpaulin sheets when its no longer raining in the State.
In fact, the over two-month-long dry spell should have facilitated resumption of the work on the remediation of the balance portion of the Sonsodo legacy dump, but in vain.
The reason is not far to seek. While it has stopped raining and the bio-remediation machinery is right at the legacy dump site, the work could not be resumed for the simple reason that cement manufacturing factories in the neighbouring state of Karnataka no longer accept the Refuse Derive Fuel (RDF) with open arms.
Unlike the past, when tonnes of RDF from across the State was transported in fleet of trucks to the Karnataka-based cement factories, the ground reality has changed now, with the cement factories accepting RDF from other states as well.
In fact, mining of the legacy dump could not be resumed for the simple reason that around 125 truckload of RDF is awaiting transportation to the cement factories in Karnataka. With the factories accepting the RDF as per their terms and conditions, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is left with no option but to work taking into account the ground conditions.
In fact, GWMC Managing Director Levinson Martins says the Corporation has now laid more stress on transporting the RDF generated during the bio-remediation process before resuming work on the remediation of the balance dump. “Rough estimates show that around 125 tonnes of RDF is presently lying at Sonsodo and awaiting transportation to the cement factories. In the past, the cement factories used to accept whatever RDF was sent from Goa. But the situation has changed as the factories now receive RDF from other states as well. We are in touch with the officials of the cement factories to ensure they accept RDF dumped at Sonsodo,” Martins said.
Martins, however, said that the GWMC will resume work on the remediation of the balance dump once transportation of the RDF starts. “Right now, one can see a huge of waste covered at Sonsodo, but it is not the legacy dump, but RDF generated during the remediation process,” he said.
The GWMC Managing Director pointed out that the prevailing situation will not affect Margao Municipal plans to set up any solid waste management facility at Sonsodo. “The MMC can very well set up a plant at the legacy dump since we have cleared waste from the land admeasuring around 2,000 square metres,” he said.
He added: “Once the existing RDF is transported to the cement factories, a good portion of the legacy dump will be cleared of the waste. The GWMC will try and clear the balance work on the dump as early as possible, before the onset of the monsoons.”
No bidders yet again for MMC’s multi-level parking project
MARGAO: There have been no takers yet again for Margao Municipal Council’s ambitious multi-crore multi-level parking project.
When the officials opened the tender for the second time on December 30, no bidder had offered to take up the project. This has prompted the officials to extend the time frame for prospective bidders to submit their bids. The tender will now be opened on January 6, informed Margao Municipal engineer, Manoj Arsekar.
He said the tender has been automatically extended to a further date since there were no bidders for the second time. “Let us wait and see whether any bidders come forward to execute the project,” he said.
While the MMC officials are hoping against hope that bidders will take the civic offer to build the multi-level parking project estimated to cost Rs 6.57 crore, the rising prices of raw material, including steel and cement is attributed as the reason behind many a contractor shying away from taking the contract.
