PANJIM/CALANGUTE: The construction of a compound wall at the Bainguinim garbage plant, a dire need for the capital city, is going on for the past one year, even as the Euro junket on garbage management also completes one year. But the construction of the Rs 100-crore plant itself has not started.
Eight months ago the CCP had passed a resolution for executing work on the solid waste management plant. All permissions have been obtained at least a year back.
Meanwhile the foundation stone for the Garbage Treatment Plant will be laid at Saligao on November 21 amidst local opposition. The work of GTP is expected to be completed within 24 months.
The state of the various garbage projects have led many locals to question whether this garbage plant too will suffer the same fate as the other ones including the one in the capital city.
“The CCP had passed a resolution authorizing the GSIDC to construct the plant at Bainguinim some eight months ago,” Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado said, admitting that there has been no headway on the issue.
The controversial European study tour on garbage treatment and management by 34 member team including the ministers in the BJP-led government, MLAs and officials was undertaken at the expense of pubic exchequer, but nothing worthwhile has materialized from it except for fast paced land acquisition of 1.20 lakh sqm, belonging to Comunidade of Calangute atop the Saligao plateau.
The ministers, MLAs and others, however, enjoyed the trip touring Italy, Germany and Austria.
Speaking to Herald, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said, “Since my election as MLA of Calangute I have been after the Manohar Parrikar-led Government of Goa for setting up the state-of-the-art Garbage Treatment Plant at Calangute.”
“I have been following up on setting up of the GTP which will take care of the garbage in the coastal villages of Calangute and surrounding areas,” he said, adding, “I want the government to set up at least eight similar GTPs upon successful commissioning and completion of the 100 tonnes plant at the Calangute plot to resolve the garbage issue in Goa. I have written to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and GSIDC officials for immediately follow-up on the project and to see that there is no further delay.”
Presently, in Calangute, garbage from the shacks has not been collected by the Department of Tourism appointed contractor for days. The Calangute Village Panchayat has stopped collecting garbage from shacks due to non-payment of previous dues and a letter from Department of Tourism asking to stop collection.
Long time panch Joseph Sequeira joins the argument saying, “The Contractor and others have been bringing garbage even from outside Calangute and dumping it atop the plateau.”
He has accused the contractor of not having any composting units to segregate the dumped garbage in violation of Goa State Pollution Control Board norms.
“We have complained to the GSPCB and have kept on record the number of trucks unloaded by the contractor and others. We should not be held responsible for the mess created by the
contractor of Department of Tourism or others,” he
argued.
