Bainguinim waste project revived amid ongoing controversy

The proposed solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim, Goa, continues to face strong opposition, even as the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) prepares to revive the project. Originally designed as a 250-tonne-per-day (TPD) facility in 2019, the plant was later scaled down to 100 TPD with a revised cost of ₹120 crore in an attempt to attract more bidders. However, multiple tender attempts have stalled at the qualification stage due to technical shortcomings, administrative delays, and persistent public resistance.

Local residents, panchayats, and elected representatives have consistently raised concerns about the plant’s proximity to homes, schools, and heritage sites, warning of potential environmental and health hazards. Critics also argue that the proposed location violates siting norms under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The Old Goa Panchayat and citizen groups have repeatedly called for the project to be shifted elsewhere, threatening protests if the government moves ahead.

Undeterred, GWMC is now preparing to reissue the Request for Qualification (RFQ) with eased eligibility norms and updated environmental safeguards. The agency hopes that the revised terms will draw fresh interest from bidders and help push the long-delayed project forward. However, its success will hinge on how effectively the new proposal addresses both technical criteria and the concerns of a deeply opposed local community.