Govt to seek Central grant for sewerage scheme
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 25
With the State government cold shouldering the ambitious plan to seek Rs 1000 crore loan to finance the sewerage scheme, the Goa Sewerage Corporation has set the process to obtain funds from Central agencies, JNRRUM and NRCD amounting to Rs 900 crore.
Unlike the earlier proposal seeking loan to fund the project, the Corporation through the Goa government will seek Central grant from these two agencies coming under the Urban Development Ministry and the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
Chairman of the Goa Sewerage Corporation Ganashyam Shirodkar said the proposal has been mooted to fund the sewerage scheme costing Rs 900 crore in the areas of Navelim, Cortalim and Porvorim. “The Corporation has collected information that the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests gives grant to the tune of Rs 70 per cent. We are hopeful to tap the Central resources to fund the sewerage project in these three places”, Shirodkar said.
If he is to be believed, the Goa government has in principle accorded sanction for the proposal to approach JNRRUM and NRCD for the funds. “I had a meeting with Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao. Both have given their nod for the proposal”, he said, adding that the proposal would be made to the Central agencies by the State government.
On the proposal to obtain loan from HUDCO, Shirodkar said the proposal is lying in cold storage as the government expressed its reservations over the decision to obtain loan from the Central agency. “We are now quite hopeful to get the central funding from NRCD as most of the effluents are discharged into the state rivers”, he said, adding that the proposal complete in all respects has been forwarded to the government for final approval.
Replying to a question, Shirodkar said the Goa Sewerage Corporation is aware of the serious sanitation problem facing the coastal villages of Goa, but hastened to add that funds is a major constraint hampering laying of sewerage lines in the affected villages.
“I am aware of the problem in Colva and other coastal villages. Sewerage scheme can be a reality along the coastal belt only if funds are made available for the huge work”, he added.
