Uproar & allegations at MMC meeting over nod for high-cost biomethanation plants

GF-backed councillors support Rs 43.54 cr proposal, Cong & BJP-backed councillors oppose project

THE GOAN NETWORK | OCTOBER 23, 2020, 12:27 AM IST
Uproar & allegations at MMC meeting over nod for high-cost biomethanation plants

MARGAO
Amidst uproarious scenes and allegations of “setting”, the ruling Margao Municipal Council bulldozed its way at the Council meeting held on Thursday by giving a thumbs up to the seven biomethanation plants costing Rs 43.54 crore at the Sonsodo site.

While the ruling Goa Forward-backed councillors all supported the biomethanation plants proposal on expected lines, Congress councillors backed by Leader of the Opposition, Digambar Kamat and BJP-backed City Fathers vehemently opposed the project tooth and nail over its huge cost.

Unprecedented uproarious scenes were witnessed at the Council meeting chaired by Chairperson Pooja Naik when the issue over the biomethanation project came for discussions. Former Chairperson Arthur D’Silva distributed and flung some pamphlets inside the meeting hall to prove a point that while the biomethanation plant proposed by GSUDA at Sanquelim will cost only Rs 2.29 crore to the exchequer, each of the seven plants will cost the Margao civic body a whopping Rs 4.81 crore.

As Arthur was overheard saying there was setting in the proposal, Chairperson Pooja took strong exception, demanding to know whether Arthur is casting aspersions on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is heading the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).

Pooja’s remarks drew strong protests from BJP-backed councillors Rupesh Mahatme and Ketan Kurtarkar, as the duo protested over the Chairperson’s move to drag the Chief Minister in the biomethanation row. The duo, who rushed to the Chairperson’s table, were seen throwing the papers in their hands, onto the table. Chairperson Pooja, however, stood her ground saying the biomethanation estimates have been prepared by the Chief Minister-headed GWMC, prompting both Rupesh and Ketan to declare their opposition to the estimates. BJP-backed councillor Jaffar also joined in opposing the proposal.

Congress-backed councillors, including Doris Texeira, Manoj Masurkar, Deepa Shirodkar and Avinash Shirodkar strongly opposed the biomethanation proposal. Councillor Suchitra Malkarnekar also rushed towards the Chairperson, demanding to know how there was vast difference in the cost of the biomethanation plants prepared by GSUDA and GWMC.

Incidentally, the entire ruling Goa Forward group supported the seven biomethanation plants. Chairperson Pooja explained that the cost of the project appears huge given that the GWMC has also proposed to construct two sheds, each admeasuring 2,000 square meters, besides construction of a concrete retaining wall and roads at the Sonsodo site.

Allaying apprehensions raised by the City Fathers, Pooja pointed out that the three biomethanation plants, each costing Rs 2.62 crore, which has received administrative approval from the government for Margao, were approved two years ago. “The seven plants have been proposed by GWMC with the latest technology on biomethanation,” she said, while claiming that the civic body is nowhere in the picture 

in preparing the estimates as the task was entrusted to the Chief Minister-headed Goa Waste Management Corporation.

Incidentally, former Chairperson Arthur D’Silva later announced at the meeting that he will support the project as he has always supported development in the town. “Initially, I was given the impression that there’s vast difference in the cost of the plants proposed at Sanquelim and Margao. Later on, I was told that the cost of the Margao plants includes the cost of construction of sheds, walls and roads,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Council for Margao has expressed its shock over the manner in which the Council bulldozed to approve the preliminary estimates for the seven biomethanation plants. Members of the SCM, who protested at the entrance to the building before the Council meeting, hoped the Council will discuss upon the specifications of the supposedly sophisticated biomethanation plants approved on Thursday, saying the SCM will remain committed to its resolve to protect the public exchequer.

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