PORVORIM: Turning down to provide any undertaking on the proposed solid waste treatment facility at Bainguinim to the City Corporation, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, however, assured that 1.71 lakh sq mtrs of land would be exclusively used for garbage treatment. The government intends to set up a academy at the site for training locals on garbage management and treatment in a scientific manner.
The garbage treatment facility at Bainguinim will come up in two years. Claiming that the planned three additional garbage plants, including that at Bainguinim can be employment generation opportunity for the locals. Parrikar said that government will ensure 2000-3000 Goans get employed at various treatment facilities in the next two-three years through proper training.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration of waste collection centre at Secretariat-Porvorim, the chief minister said that the land at Bainguinim was procured by government and was handed over to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) for setting up solid waste treatment facility.
“Government had paid money to acquire the land. But CCP failed to set up plant all these years. And now they are asking for its undertaking and a time-frame from government. Corporation cannot ask us for that,” he said.
“We will not provide any undertaking to the Corporation, which is dependent on Government for financial support even to pay salaries to its employees,” the chief minister stated.
“But, I assure that the land would be used exclusively for setting up the waste treatment facility. We will require a land of 1.25 lakh sq mtrs of setting up the plant,” Parrikar said adding that government may also set up an academy where training would be provided to the locals on garbage management and treatment”.
After initial tussle, CCP during its special meeting held on September 13, resolved to hand over 1.71 lakh sq mtrs of land at Bainguinim to the Goa Waste Management Corporation for setting up garbage treatment facility; but on a condition that government should give an undertaking that the land would be used for garbage facility and the time limit within which the project would be ready. The land was acquired by CCP in 2009.
The facility, with a capacity of 250 tonnes, intends to handle the waste generated in five assembly constituencies of Tiswadi taluka – Panjim, Taleigao, St Cruz, St Andre and Old Goa.
