9 civic bodies to get waste treatment plants by May

MARGAO, SEPT 24  
There’s good news in store on the waste management front in the Municipal areas across the State.
Of the 14 municipal bodies in the State, waste treatment plants and sanitary land fill site will be put in place by May next year in as many as nine municipal areas. While garbage treatment plants are in operation in Mormugao and Bicholim, land acquisition process is current underway to set up similar plants in Mapusa and Curchorem municipal areas.
If Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao is to be believed, the government has sanctioned grants to the nine municipal bodies for construction of land fill sites and garbage treatment plants. “The government has released an amount of Rs 40.23 crore for land acquisition, construction of land fill sites and garbage treatment plants, construction of composting stations, purchase of compactors, dustbins and even day-to-day operation and maintenance of garbage during the last three years”, Alemao said, adding that the main role of the government is to make available grants to the municipal authorities to acquire land and to set up the treatment plant and land fill site.
Director of Municipal Administration, Daulat Havaldar said the acquisition of land for waste treatment plants at Mapusa and Curchorem is currently in progress. As regards Valpoi Municipal Council, he said the government has taken a Cabinet decision to transfer government land to the Council.
Replying to a question, Havaldar said that the waste treatment plants in Sanquelim and Canacona are expected to be commissioned by the first week of November 2010.
While the plant at Quepem will be put in place by January 2011, the waste plants at Pernem, Valpoi, Sanguem and Ponda will be commissioned by May 2011. “The waste treatment plant at Margao will be ready by March 2011”, he added.
A glance at the funds sanctioned for the various Municipal bodies showed that the Corporation of the City of Panjim received Rs 826.29 lakh, followed by Margao Municipal Council Rs 479.63 lakh.