SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The cost of constructing the Solid Waste Treatment Plant (SWTP) at Cacora in South Goa, has escalated by a whopping 30 per cent from the time it was first conceived in 2013, as the government decided to keep the project in abeyance following directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with regards to grant of Environment Clearance (EC).
The State Cabinet under Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar last week 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 execution of the project will be done by concessionaire Vasudha Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd.
As per the cabinet note approved, the Letter of Award for the SWTP at Cacora was issued to SMC Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, who will perform the obligations of the contractor Vasudha Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd, on March 5, 2014 for the quoted amount of Rs 145.95 crore.
“However, the concessionaire submitted a letter to Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation on February 5, 2018 on escalation of cost due to the delay in commencement of the project. The revised project cost worked out was approximately Rs 189.99 crore,” the document stated.
The project was kept in abeyance due to non-availability of EC especially taking into consideration the appeal filed before NGT in 2015 by Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell and comments put by Ministry of Science and Technology that “it was prudent to wait and evaluate the performance of the SWTP at Saligao and then execute the Cacora plant after ensuring all shortcomings were met and learning were considered in the design and operation phase.
The EC for the project was issued on January 22, 2018 by Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GEIAA).
The revised cost was worked out taking into account various factors like NGT directions, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, delay in grant of EC, technical improvements recommended by the expert committee, the learning’s made during SWTP at Saligao, etc.
Further, the government has decided to seek financial assistance from NABARD, which has sanctioned a loan of Rs 133.38 crore at a low interest rate of 4.75 per cent. “In view of the reduced rate of interest by NABARD, the State will have an 8.25 per cent saving per annum which is to the tune of overall saving of around Rs 89 crore in ten years on operation and maintenance,” the document stated.
