Team Herald
PANJIM: The construction cost of Solid Waste Treatment Plant (SWTP) at Cacora in South Goa, has been reduced by almost 10 per cent, after a special Review Committee reassessed the project cost.
The State Cabinet under the then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar, had in February, this year, granted its nod for the revised estimated project cost of Rs 189.99 crore, which was initially worked out to be Rs 145.95 crore in 2013.
The project cost is now reduced to Rs 173.84 crore. The foundation stone for the project was laid on December 13 and it is expected to be completed within 15 months.
Speaking to media persons, Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo said that the cost of the project has been further revised and has come down to Rs 173 crore. “A special Review Committee was formed to study the project cost. After excluding some unwarranted finances, the cost was revised,” he said.
Lobo added that the revised cost will be vetted by State Cabinet again. He said that of the total 173 crore, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will provide the financial assistance upto 75 per cent of the cost while the balance will be taken care by the contractor. The execution of the project is been done by concessionaire M/s Vasudha Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd.
The project cost was escalated by whopping 30 per cent from the time it was first conceived in the year 2013, as the government decided to keep the project in abeyance following directions from National Green Tribunal (NGT) with regards to grant of Environment Clearance (EC).
