Team Herald

PORVORIM: In a step towards making Goa garbage-free by 2020, the Manohar Parrikar-led government has announced a ban on plastic below 40 microns and proposed heavy penalty on those found selling plastic bags.

The government on Friday also announced setting up of three integrated Municipal Waste Treatment Plants at Cacora, Bainguinim and Verna Industrial Estate on Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

“The aim of my government is to make garbage-free Goa by 2020 and the first step towards this would be to ban plastic below 40 microns completely from the State of Goa and heavy penalty will be levied on the seller as well as the user of these plastic bags with appropriate legal provision,” Parrikar said in his Budget speech.

During his earlier stint in 2012-14, Parrikar had announced to make Goa garbage-free by December 19, 2015, however, it had not happened.

Parrikar said one should not rest on the laurels of successfully commissioning one of the country’s best Solid Waste Treatment Plant at Saligao plateau. “If we have to settle the waste management issue throughout Goa once for all, we need three more such facilities in the State,” he said.

The government proposes to undertake construction of the second integrated municipal waste treatment plant along with transfer station at Cacora in South Goa on DBFOT basis. This would further boost segregation as well as waste collection in Quepem and Sanguem and alleviate problems of indiscriminate dumping taking place at many places.

Besides, the government intends to start two more such garbage treatment plants – one at Baiguinim and another at Verna Industrial Estate.

Chief Minister said that the compost generated in this plant will be used by Forest and Agricultural Departments as manure.

He informed the House that the government has already cleared the garbage dump at Patto and Saligao making these areas clean and hygienic, and now it is proposed to clear the Sonsodo dump and take it up for remediation under Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. 

The Chief Minister assured to take immediate steps to make Goa Waste Management Corporation fully functional by June 2017 and address all issues regarding waste management.

A Rs 1160 crore budgetary provision has been made for garbage management with Rs 770 crore for establishment of transfer stations, road side garbage collection, across National Highways, State Highways, major district roads, collection of garbage from around 100 panchayat areas and for education programmes on garbage management.