CALANGUTE, MARCH 13
The Calangute Gram Sabha on Sunday decided to go ahead with the garbage treatment plant at Calangute.
The decision to set up garbage treatment plant was arrived at the special Gram Sabha convened in the panchayat hall, Calangute.
A 5 tonne per day (TPD) capacity garbage treatment plant would be set up within six months. Initially, the Gram Sabha members objected to the panchayat’s decision to go in for a 5 TPD plant considering the quantum of garbage accumulation day-by-day.
However, former sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and Panch Subhash Salgaonkar explained to the members about the difficulties being faced by the panchayat in obtaining administrative approvals for various projects and to avoid such hassles, they suggested for a 5 TPD plant, which was accepted by the members.
The estimated cost of the Integrated Solid Waste Management plant was put at Rs 70 lakh inclusive of civil, electrical, engineering and service taxes, etc, while the panchayat would allocate 500 sq mts of land free of cost. The life span of plant would be about 20 years.
Earlier, representative of Mailhem Engineers Pvt Ltd Samir Rege from Pune explained various aspects of the plant to the Gram Sabha members with a PowerPoint presentation in detail.
The members also put forth their views and sought clarifications on different aspects over setting up of the plant. The members also sought a ‘BOOT’ proposal for the plant. Rege however explained to the members that it would be difficult to get a financier for the project as the cost involved would be less than Rs 5 crore.
Rege also outlined the requirement of trained personnel for the maintenance of the project. Gram Sabha member Anthony Menezes enquired if the locals would be trained to undertake the job. Rege answered in the affirmative and said it could be worked out.
Explaining the pros and cons of the waste management plant, Rege highlighted the 5 TPD Plan can generate 300 cu m/day biogas, 4,000 kg/m of LPG or 480 units/day, 165 tonnes/annum of bio-manure and 5-6 cu m/day of overflow which can add to generation of revenue for the Calangute Panchayat.
When Gram Sabha members sought to know how the revenue would be taken care of by the Panchayat, Sequeira clarified saying that the produce can be sold to industries at Saligao/Pilerne.
Rege also informed the Gram Sabha members that Sarpanch Alex Fernandes along with Panchas Joseph Sequeira and Subhash Salgaonkar visited the plants in Pune and got first hand information of the plant.
Sequeira confirmed the visit saying that they even enquired with the neighbours residing in the close proximity of the plant about any foul odour being generated from the plant to which they replied in the negative.
After the presentation of Rege and subsequent clarification of Sequeira, the Gram Sabha members agreed for setting up of a 5 TPD plant while seeking more details on the maintenance cost, etc,
Sequeira agreed to provide the required information to the members through a booklet.
The budget of the local body for 2011-12 was also placed before the members for their views and suggestions.
