Fomento should pull out of Sonsoddo on its own: CM

PANJIM: Stating that Fomento should pull out of the Sonsoddo plant on its own, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government is looking at out of court settlement with the company.

Emerging out of the HPCC meeting on Sonsoddo, Sawant said that the meeting had decided to set up two new plants in the Margao municipal areas to solve the current waste issue.

“Chief Secretary along with Solid Waste Management official will visit the plants in Delhi and Varanasi. The plants, which will come up at two different places in Margao, will be in small 500-metre plots,” he said and added that these plants will help treat day-to-day wet waste and dry waste will be bailed out.

The Chief Minister said the government has asked for a land from GIDC wherein all dry waste would be bailed out.

Sawant also urged people from Margao not to mix waste.

“I urge people to segregate waste and the panchayats too must ask people to segregate at source,” he said.

Sawant said the tendering of new plants will begin within a week and within two months the issue would be sorted out.

With regards the court matter, he said government is ready for out of court settlement and assured that the government will resolve the matter between Fomento and Margao Municipal Council. 

“I will personally speak to Fomento chairman and request him to hand over the Sonsoddo plant to Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation in the interest of people,” he added.

“Whatever actual payment is left will be paid,” he said.

When questioned on the amount pending, Sawant said, “Fomento is quoting Rs 12 cr but actually I think it is around Rs 5-6 crore, which we are ready to pay. But he has to opt out.”

Levinson Martins presented the current situation at the plant and informed in detail the legacy dump at Sonsoddo, waste management at Margao Municipal Council and Sonsoddo plant operation.

With regards to the proposed Bainguinim Solid Waste Management Facility, the finance funding model and other aspects were discussed

The Chief Minister chaired a meeting of the High Power Committee for Sonsoddo Garbage Treatment Plant and meeting regarding proposed Solid Waste Management Facility at Bainguinim in Secretariat conference hall, Porvorim on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by ministers, legislators and government officials.