MARGAO
Former Margao Municipal Chairperson Ghanashyam Shirodkar on Tuesday demanded the intervention of the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC) headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure that only the bio-digesters proposed by the government become a reality at Sonsodo.
Saying that the private agency has approached the Margao Municipal Council with an offer to solve the Sonsodo waste management issue, Shirodkar questioned the efficacy of the small bio-digesters with the environmental audit pointing out several issues plaguing the lone bio-digester set up at the SGPDA market.
The former MMC chairperson also sought to drag Margao MLA Digambar Kamat into the controversy, saying the MLA is in good books with the promoters of the bio-digester company.
Addressing the media, Shirodkar pointed out that Margao had a bad experience in the past initiatives with the companies as they had failed to address the issue.
“Hence, it is the interest of the city that the government should intervene and ensure that only companies with reputed background bags the contract to set up the plants,” he said.
He also demanded that since Waste Management Minister Atanasio Monserrate has promised to set up two 25 TPD bio-methanation plants at Sonsodo within 18 months, the MMC should immediately scrap the remaining two bio-methanation plants in the city.
“These two plants will cost the civic body close to Rs 5 crore. When the Waste Management Minister has promised to set up two 25 TPD plants at Sonsodo, setting up these two plants will be a waste of taxpayer’s money and only benefit the company," he added.
Shirodkar dragged Margao MLA Kamat into the controversy, saying the MLA is close to the company promoters.
“These people are approaching everyone to bag the contract. They have also approached the MLA. When the plant set up at the SGPDA market is not functioning for over a month now, I think the company should not be entertained in the city," he demanded.
Digambar rubbishes allegations
MARGAO:
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has rubbished reports that he is lobbying to get the bio-methanation plants awarded to a specific company.
He also pooh-poohed MMC councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar’s statement that Margao had a bitter experience with previous companies, saying Madgavkars know who was responsible to get the companies at Sonsodo.
Asserting that he has no connection whatsoever with the promoters of the bio-methanation plants, Kamat said the promoter had posed for a photograph with him when the latter had come to hand him a copy of a book.
“I have no interest in these bio-methanation plants. If any company has made an offer to set up the project at Sonsodo, it does not mean that I have an interest in it. Since it is an offer, it is for the Margao Municipality to take a call on the matter,” he asserted.
