MAPUSA
In a significant decision, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has resolved to construct a waste treatment plant at Cunchelim in Mapusa, even as the local councillor objected to the decision and walked out of the council meeting in protest.
Eighteen councillors gave a go-ahead to the proposal to build a waste plant at the Cunchelim site, which is in the council's possession, while two councillors - Chandrashekar Benkar and Madhumita Narvekar objected to the move.
Councillor from Cunchelim, Chandrashekar Benkar opposed the plan after the MMC chairperson moved the crucial note of the civic body's plan to shift and construct the waste treatment plant in Cunchelim at the council meeting on Friday.
"All these years the civic body has been sorting out and treating the city waste at Assagao plateau. Why can't the waste treatment plant be also built at the same spot," a flustered Benkar questioned.
Chairperson Rohan Kavlekar informed that the Assagao site did not belong to the Mapusa Municipal Council.
"Assagao land is not in our possession, while the civic body has acquired land in Cunchelim with the sole aim to build a waste treatment plant. Besides, the council has already passed a resolution to allow Observing I Ecotech to set up a waste treatment plant," Kavlekar said.
Former chairperson, Sandip Falari informed that as per municipal solid waste management (MSWM) rules, the land to build a waste plant should be in the jurisdiction of the civic body.
"The matter came up in High Court and on the direction of the court the site in Cunchelim was acquired by the civic body. Sometime or the other we will have to go to Cunchelim," Falari said.
Failing to get any support from other colleagues, councillor, Benkar walked out of the meeting in a huff.
In the past, residents of Cunchelim had raised a big hue and cry over MMC's plan to build a waste treatment plant in their area.
The Cunchelim locals had raised strong objections to the council's plans of setting up a garbage treatment plant in the village, claiming that the proposed site wasn't a wise choice as it was a residential area.
Locals fear the problem of water contamination, which in turn would lead to pollution and spread of diseases.
The civic body had acquired 32,000 sq m of land for the construction of the plant at Cunchelim and spent around Rs 2.30 crore for the land acquisition.
The council had also begun building a compound wall around the property but had to give up midway due to strong objection of the locals.
MMC generates around 20 tonnes of garbage every day and this is presently disposed of at the Assagao plateau.
Three months ago, MMC had passed a resolution to allow a Gurgaon-based company, Observing I Ecotech to set up a waste treatment plant to treat the city's garbage.
Sources informed that Friday's decision will facilitate signing of the MoU between MMC and the Gurgaon-based company.
