MARGAO: Stating that the work order for setting up the waste management plant at Cacora has been issued, Waste Management Minister, Michael Lobo on Thursday slammed the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for its negative approach and also the Fomento Green for holding town residents to ransom. 

With regards to the Cacora waste treatment plant, Lobo said that the work order has been issued with the GSIDC submitting the drawings to the contractor and NABARD sanctioning Rs 180 crore for the project.

"Facilities in Verna, Cacora and Sonsoddo will be enough to handle entire South Goa waste," he informed and added that the paperwork for Bainguinim plant is underway.  

He said the Cacora plant would take 15 to 18 months to complete. 

"Biomedical waste facility at Kundaim will be ready within 15 months and the tender for the same will be opened next month. By October-end, the work order will be issued. Biomedical waste is irresponsibly dumped all over Goa and the NGT has directed the Government to have a facility for such waste. Presentation of the plan of the final bidder of the biomedical waste treatment plant will be shown to the media. We are in possession of the land," the Minister added.    

On the Sonsoddo imbroglio, he said, "Tender has been issued for bioremediation to process the existing dump at Sonsoddo. The matter is in court and since treatment is not happening, the municipality needs to take back the entire area from the contractor and it is high time that the contractor should return the land". 

"Let us not hold the people of Margao, Fatorda, Navelim and Curtorim to ransom. Waste is dumped along the roadsides at Fatorda and this shouldn't happen," he said. 

"MMC had promised to keep the Fatorda and Margao clean but failed to keep up to its word till date. The municipality has not made any attempts to keep the town clean. It will take 4 to 5 months to set up our facility here but we will give results and will also remediate the existing dump," he assured.