Team Herald
PANJIM: Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) after heated discussions on Friday resolved not to transfer the land acquired for the solid waste treatment plant (SWTP) at Bainguinim to Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for declaration as an industrial zone. It has instead decided to go to the local bodies and seek permission. This could further delay the project.
In May 2014, CCP had decided to declare the area an industrial zone, considering the delay in receiving permissions for the project from different local authorities. As per IDC rules any area to be declared an industrial zone has to be transferred in its name.
Friday’s ordinary meeting of the CCP, saw stormy discussions on the issue, leading to the council unanimously resolving not to hand over the land to IDC. They proposed that Town and Country Planning (TCP) department be asked to declare the area an industrial zone and then move the appropriate authorities for permissions. The Council feared that by handing over the land to IDC, it could lose the land and it could be misused.
Objecting strongly, former Mayor Surendra Furtado proposed that if not TCP then under the Regional Plan 2021, the land can be declared an industrial zone. He was supported by the ruling and opposition benches.
CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues said he too was not in favour of transferring the land to IDC, but to speed up the project it was important to take the decision. “Even in case of Saligao and Cacora garbage plant, the land was transferred to IDC,” he said.
“The Corporation has noticed that the permission required for construction of the facility has not been received in time from the local authorities. Corporation had to file appeal with the authorities and had to approach the High Court for necessary directions to the local bodies for the issuance of licences,” Rodrigues told the councilors.
The Commissioner said that CCP has managed to get the area declared as Garbage Treatment Zone (GTZ) under RP21, but since the plan is in abeyance they have to look at other options.
