PORVORIM: Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has stated that Goa’s perennial garbage problem cannot be solved by simply setting up one or two garbage treatment plants worth several crores of rupees. Instead, he suggested, the government should provide funds of Rs 1 crore to each village panchayat to enable them to set up their own mini garbage treatment plants.
Khaunte was speaking after inaugurating a garbage treatment plant set up by the Penha de Franca panchayat on land offered by Goa Housing Board at Porvorim on Saturday.
He further mentioned that the Penha de Franca panchayat had started door-to-door collection of garbage two years ago, and that 1.5 tons of segregated plastic is being collected every week by the contractor nominated by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
“The bailing machine for this garbage treatment plant will be supplied by GSPCB and the converter costing Rs 8.5 lakh will be provided by the company under its Corporate Social Responsibility fund. Penha de Franca has set the example that a panchayat can tackle the garbage issue on its own. The government should offer financial assistance to the panchayats in this regard,” said Khaunte.
Sarpanch Safar Phadte stated that panchayat had constructed the plant with Rs 18 lakh from the panchayat fund and added, “The panchayat spends around Rs 38 lakh towards garbage collection from 11 wards; it does not get any financial assistance for this.”
