PANJIM: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) Thursday alleged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is attempting a backdoor entry of a Gurgaon-based firm at a much higher cost for collection and treatment of bio-medical waste in the State.
Former chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council Babita Prabhudesai has stated that government has started a parallel process to collect and treat bio-medical waste without consulting the stakeholders.
“A tender was floated for handling of bio-medical waste through the GSIDC, whose Chairman happens to be Chief Minister. He has negotiated the rates… The contract was also awarded to Gurgaon-based M/s Biotic Waste Solution Pvt Ltd, which is charging 40 percent more than the amount charged earlier. Why has the government started a parallel process to carry out the procedure despite the existing process,” she questioned at a press conference with documents to prove the allegations.
She questioned the government for revising the rates towards collection of waste from the hospitals and clinics, without taking into consideration the stakeholders.
“Why do we need an additional facility when we are satisfied with the existing system? Besides using the incinerator at GMC, the waste is also being sent to the facility at Karwar at no extra cost. The parallel facility is clear evidence that at the behest of COVID-19 pandemic, government is cheating the people,” alleged Prabhudesai, who is also a doctor by profession. The party, she said, will seek legal opinion against the new contract.
