PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) inaugurated the Solid Waste Management (SWM) vehicle which will be used for the Swachh Bharat Mission in Panjim.
“CCP has been focused to improve the infrastructure in the capital city by proper management and treatment of waste,” said Panjim Mayor Rohit Monserrate.
On a related topic, reportedly on account of CCP being unable to process the total organic waste generated/collected due to limited capacity for treating the waste and lack of space for expansion, the corporation decided to provide an incentive to those who can establish a wet waste processing facility on their own.
Under the proposal, the corporation provides a 50% tax rebate to the society members/institution/commercial establishments by providing adjustment in the house tax/sanitation fees/trade and occupation license fees to the maximum extent of 50% of the capital cost.
As of now, Kamat Estate Housing Society has established a biodigester unit with a capacity of 75/kg per day at a total capital cost of Rs 6,30,000, wherein the 50% share amounts to Rs 3,15,000.
Similarly Club Tennis De Gaspar unit established a biodigester (300/kg a day) at Rs 15, 00,000, wherein the 50% share o amounts to Rs 7, 50,000.
Then there are two more commercial units, Hotel Crown and Fisherman Wharf, which have both installed biodigester units (150 kg/day). Each of these costs Rs 10, 50,000 and the 50% cost amounts to Rs 5, 25,000.
The corporation has encouraged more such waste generators to come forward in establishing decentralised wet waste processing facilities, which would ensure better management of solid waste and reduce the operation and transportation cost incurred in the long run.
CCP officials also spoke about how they have been promoting new technologies for better operation and management of organic waste.
In this regard, CCP is selling the compost or manure produced through composting and bio-digestion of the waste generated in the city. CCP Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes has said that in the last 18 months, they have sold compost worth Rs 11 lakh by selling the manure to individuals living in bungalows and having gardens, farmhouse owners and even farmers. CCP provides free delivery to Panjim residents.
While the manure is sold in the range of Rs 3 to Rs 10 per kg, a truckload of the manure is sold by CCP for Rs 6,000.
The Commissioner added that the compost is being generated at two places in Panjim, in the municipal market and at a location that is opposite KTC bus stand, near Heera petrol pump.
Besides this, CCP supplies the biogas that has been generated through bio-digestion to various canteens based in the city such as Goa Polytechnic, Goa Reserve Police, KTC and another cafe. CCP is still in the process of studying how much biogas is being produced and how much is being consumed.
For those installing such units at their residences, CCP officials pointed out that this is an added benefit for setting up biodigesters, given the value of manure and compost generated. Fernandes added that even single house owners can set up a small wet waste biogas unit (wet waste). Fernandes said that it can even replace LPG cylinders in the future.
The location of biodigesters where work is in progress are at the CCP garage (300 kg); KTC (site A 75 kg and site B 500+150 kg); Mala Lake (150+150+300 kg), Cine National (500+500 kg), St Inez Animal shelter at St Inez (500 kg); Along Jack Sequeira Road (500 kg), inter-state bus stand (1,000 kg) and Goa Police headquarters at Altinho (75 kg).
