MARGAO
Even as the Margao Municipal Council is sorting out issues after the opening of the bids to set up two bio-methanation plants in the city, the civic body has mooted as many as 17 bio-digesters to tackle the waste generated in the housing societies.
While three bio-digesters, each having a capacity to treat 150 kilograms of waste a day, will be set up in the major housing societies, the remaining 14 50-kg bio-digesters will be installed in the residential buildings in Margao and Fatorda areas of the municipality.
The proposals mooted by the Margao municipality are all awaiting the nod from the office of the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) and will be implemented no sooner it is given.
MMC Chief Officer, Agnelo Fernandes informed that the three 150 kilogram capacity bio-digesters, each costing around Rs six lakh, will be totally funded by the government. As far as the 14 50-kg bio-digesters are concerned, Agnelo pointed out that the civic body will bear the cost of the digesters as well as the installation.
“The Civic body will foot the bill of the bio-digesters and also seek subsidy from Goa Energy Development Agency to meet the cost. Each of these 50-kg bio-digesters will cost Rs three lakh,” he said, adding that housing societies will be only required to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the digester for five years.
The Chief Officer added: “Once installed, waste generated from the housing societies will be treated right at the source. This means that waste need not be collected and transported to Sonsodo for treatment”.
Agnelo pointed out that the MMC is in the process of finalizing the contractor to set up the biomethanation plants in the city. “Though the MMC has floated a tender for three biomethanation plants, we may go for one or two plants as the project will be implemented as a pilot one,” he said, adding that the MMC is firm in setting up the biomethanation plants in the city at the earliest.
