Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Francis D’Souza on Thursday told the State Legislative Assembly that the government has proposed upgradation of the solid waste treatment plant at Sada by adopting in-vessel compositing and baling machine facilities.
The Minister said that the approval has been given by the Goa State Pollution Control Board for in-vessel composting and baling machine facilities with a bio-gas plant with certain conditions for upgradation of the waste treatment plant at Sada.
D’Souza said that the landfill site admeasuring 25,000.00 sq mts at Verna industrial estate is under the process of acquisition by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. He said since the corporation is yet to take possession of the land, it is not handed over to the Mormugao Municipal Council yet.
“The plant will be in line with the solid waste treatment plants proposed in Saligao and Curchorem,” he said adding that the project will be funded by the State government.
The question was tabled by MLA Carlos Almeida, who sought to know whether there are any plans to upgrade the Sada garbage plant and that the plant is non-operational for last few months.
The minister also expressed the possibility of outsourcing garbage collection in the municipal areas as most of the municipalities are not willing to take up the responsibility of garbage collection. “As a part of revenue generation, the government even proposed imposing garbage collection tax on households but still municipalities are not ready to take the initiative,” he said adding that government is ready to provide all financial support provided the councils come up with the proposals.
