MARGAO
As the 5TPD bio-methanation waste treatment plant set up by the Margao Municipal Council at the SGPDA market shut down since the last few days, the Margao Civic body is facing a million dollar question “ when would the MMC resume operation of the bio-methanation plant given that the plant is saturated with slurry/leachate.
In fact, the Margao Municipal Council finds itself in a tight spot with the PWD rejecting all pleas by the Civic body to accept the leachate/slurry generated at the plant.
The PWD, sewerage has refused to accept the slurry/leachate at the Margao and Vasco Sewerage treatment plants. Senior officials of the PWD have also rejected the request of the MMC to open the sewage manhole behind the KTC bus stand for the discharge of the slurry.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar was candid in admitting that the bio-methanation plant cannot resume its operations unless the slurry/leachage piled up at the plant is disposed of. “We have knocked the doors of the PWD, sewerage department to accept the slurry/leachate from the bio-methanation plant at the Margao and Vasco STPs, but in vain. We will take a call how to go about the matter”, he said.
He added: “There’s no problem with the functioning of the Bio-methanation plant. The problem lies in the disposal of the slurry/leachate generated in the plant. Unless the slurry is disposed of, the plant cannot resume its operations”.
Sources pointed out that the Margao Municipality is weighing various operations, including drawing the attention of the High Court at the next date of hearing scheduled on September 11. “If the PWD or any other department does not accept the slurry, we will have no option than to draw the attention of the High Court”, remarked a senior official.
