TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Congress’ Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar has warned the Goa government against starting of a garbage treatment plant at Bainguinim, pointing to the strong resentment from Old Goa residents.
“Does the government not get any land elsewhere? Or are you testing the patience of the locals?” Madkaikar told the Goa Assembly during a demand for grants on municipal administration.
Madkaikar asked the government to look out for alternate land, before the people come out on the streets to protest against the setting up of the waste treatment facility.
“People will not allow the setting up of the plant in Bainguinim. You are wasting your time. Don’t wait for people to come out onto the streets and later you (government) will change the site,” he added.
Considering the total residential area, Old Goa figuring as a world heritage site with a number of churches and the recent acquisition of land for setting up of educational institutes, Madkaikar said that Bainguinim should not be the place for garbage.
Minister for municipal administration Francis D’Souza clarified that the government’s role was up to the land acquisition stage and handing it over to the Corporation of the City of Panaji.
“CCP is putting up the plant. If you have any grievance, place it before the CCP…then it can be dropped. The funding is from the Central government,” he mentioned.
On August 4, the government had said that the construction of compound wall for the facility, which is designed to treat 100 metric tons of waste per day, will be completed this month. It will also cater to garbage generated in Panjim where garbage menace is increasing.
