MARGAO, OCT 2
Cuncolim became the third Municipal body in Goa to have its own waste treatment plant, with the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, commissioning the 10-tonne plant at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate on Saturday.
The chief minister said a total of 12 municipal bodies in the State will have their own waste treatment plants by May, 2011.
Saying that the government was determined to find a solution to the garbage problem plaguing the State, the chief minister complimented urban development minister for setting up the plant in Cuncolim.
Kamat said it could be a model for other bodies to follow.
“This is the second plant in operation in Goa after Bicholim. By May 2011, other municipal bodies will follow suit,” stated Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao.
Alemao said that his dream to set up the garbage treatment plants in all the municipal bodies would be achieved before his tenure as the State’s urban development expires two years from now.
Making an earnest appeal to the people of Goa not to oppose garbage treatment plants in the State, Alemao invited those having apprehensions about these plants to visit the Cuncolim plant and see for themselves its operation.
He thanked the Cuncolim Municipal Councillors for extending full support to set up the plant and rubbished reports that the garbage from entire Goa will find its way into Cuncolim. “Some vested interests are deliberately spreading reports that garbage from other parts of Goa will come into Cuncolim. Let me make it clear that the plant will treat waste generated only from Cuncolim,” he added.
PWD Minister Churchill Alemao said the people of Goa should cooperate in solving the garbage woes by not simply opposing attempts to solve the perennial problem.
In his address, Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Devendra Desai has thanked the Urban Development Minister for setting up the waste treatment plant in Cuncolim and appealed to the people to elect Alemao unopposed in the next Assembly polls.
Former Minister, Arecio D’Souza, former CMC Chairperson Filon Vaz, Oscar Martins were amongst others also spoke.
