Team Herald
PANJIM: The proposed solid waste management (SWM) plant at Bainguinim has escalated into a confrontation between Waste Management Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate and Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Faldesai, with the latter strongly opposing it on Wednesday.
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Monserrate stated that the government will set up third SWM plant at Bainguinim as all process had been cleared. He claimed that there is no opposition and the Supreme Court had also cleared it. The project was delayed due to tenders which were floated three years ago and now it will be retenders with revised estimates. The works will start by August this year and the plant will be completed within two years.
Reacting to Faldesai’s opposition, the Minister said that the SWM facility at Bainguinim will benefit the entire Tiswadi taluka.
However, Faldesdai challenged the Minister to go ahead and start the work of the proposed SWM facility at Bainguinim. Stating that the SWM facility was already scrapped, he said, “Why can’t the Minister set it up in IT Habitat land at Dona Paula or behind his bungalow at Taleigao where there is vacant land. I will not keep quiet if the government goes ahead with the project”
The government has now decided to shift the Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste plant from Kudchirem to Tuem, Pernem, he hinted. The Kudchirem villagers had opposed the proposed C&D plant in the village.
Earlier, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant approved the E-Waste Policy 2024 for the State aimed at developing sustainable waste management practices.
It also approved a proposal to allocate land to the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) for establishing a 150 tons per day wet waste processing plan to enhance the State’s waste management infrastructure. The Goa Handicraft, Rural and Small-Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd will be allotted 5,000 square metres of land along with two existing sheds in the IDC at Cacora, Curchorem for use as a Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
The GWMC will train stakeholders across the country in waste management practices through online courses and announced the development of a Massive Online Open Courseware (MOOC) for conducting such trainings.
The GWMC earned revenue of Rs 38.56 lakh through the auction of vehicles and metal waste. It also decided to float new tenders for the collection, transportation, and segregation of solid waste, including non-biodegradable and dry waste.
