MAPUSA
In a major boost to waste management infrastructure in the State, the Goa government has initiated the process of setting up a municipal solid waste-based bio-methanation plant in Mormugao that will treat nearly 25 tonnes of wet waste generated daily in the port town.
The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) to Retap Solutions Pvt Ltd for establishing the facility at Headland Sada, Vasco, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
A senior GWMC official said the proposed plant will address a long-standing gap in wet waste treatment infrastructure in Mormugao.
"At present, there is no dedicated facility for processing wet waste generated in Vasco. The wet waste collected from the town has been transported to the Saligao waste treatment plant for processing. Once the new bio-methanation facility becomes operational, all the wet waste generated within the Mormugao Municipal Council limits can be treated locally," the official said.
The proposed facility will have the capacity to process 25 tonnes of wet waste per day, matching the quantity currently generated by the municipality.
The plant will come up at Headland Sada, where waste is presently being dumped. Under the PPP arrangement, the entire investment for the project will be made by the private concessionaire, resulting in no capital expenditure burden on the State government.
"The company identified for the project is Retap Solutions Pvt Ltd and a Letter of Intent has already been issued. The project is expected to take around one year for completion, including civil works, installation of machinery and commissioning of the facility," the official said.
The upcoming bio-methanation plant is expected to significantly reduce the transportation of wet waste to Saligao, lower operational costs and improve the efficiency of waste processing in the Mormugao region.
Bio-methanation technology converts biodegradable waste into biogas and organic manure through an anaerobic digestion process.
Besides addressing waste disposal challenges, the facility is also expected to contribute towards renewable energy generation and sustainable waste management practices.
The project forms part of the State's broader efforts to strengthen decentralised waste treatment infrastructure and reduce dependence on existing processing facilities.
With Mormugao emerging as one of Goa's major urban centres, officials said the new facility would play a critical role in ensuring scientific disposal and treatment of wet waste while improving environmental conditions in the port town.
