PANAJI
Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on Tuesday declared that the Goa government is gearing to set up waste treatment facilities capable of handling all categories of waste in the next two years.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at his official residence at Altinho in Panaji, Lobo stated, “In the next two years, we will complete facilities to treat each category of waste and deliver a green and clean Goa.”
Referring to the ongoing construction of the Cacora Waste Treatment Plant, he said that the work, which was on hold due to Covid for six months, resumed 10 days ago and that the work on footing will start this week.
“NABARD had financed funds to the tune of Rs 25 crore for this facility. The State government has transferred this amount into our account and we will immediately extend an advance of Rs 10 crore to Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd to mobile all their material and to speed up the work. We want the plant ready in 15-month time before the end of our term. I want to inaugurate this plant,” Lobo declared.
He further disclosed that the government has reviewed the Banguinim plant and that a pre-bid meeting was convened on Tuesday. The tender will be opened on November 11 and the work order is likely to be issued immediately.
The Waste Management Department also submitted photos to the Chief Minister on the ongoing work to increase the capacity of Saligao Solid Waste Treatment plant by 100 tonnes. “We have been given Rs 10 crore additional as funds for this,” Lobo said.
Meanwhile, the ongoing work on Bio-Medical Waste treatment facility at Kundaim is expected to be completed by March to April 2021.
Lobo informed that the government has also passed the decision to execute “Extended producer responsibility”, an environmental protection strategy aimed at integrating environmental costs in the manufacturing processes. “We are going to charge them. If it is in a particular village, give the money to the panchayat, if it’s in a municipal area, give it to the municipal body. Per tonne, some Rs 1,000 will be charged on waste collected on all manufacturing industries,” he said.
Speaking about the comprehensive report (2016-2020)of Goa Waste Management Corporation, Lobo stated that the document contains details of how the government has successfully treated thousands of tonnes of waste, turned it into manure and sent some as RDF to a cement factory. “The report talks about how we cleared the dark spots in hundreds of villages. There are 27 villages. We still collect waste from them,” he stressed.
GWMC to lift old, discarded furniture and vehicles on request from govt offices
PANAJI: Waste Management Minister MIchael Lobo on Tuesday declared that the State government has approved the plan to lift old, discarded furniture and vehicles as well as other clutter from government offices through the GWMC.
“GWMC will start lifting old discarded furniture and vehicles from government offices if they request us to and the money from the sale of the same will be credited to the State treasury,” Lobo stated.
The department has also given remediation figures of all old dumps to the Chief Minister. “We are on track as far as old legacy waste is concerned,” the minister said.
