Meat Complex to build bigger treatment plant

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa Meat Complex is all set to replace its three decade old 65 cubic meters Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) with a modern plant, with 265 cubic meter capacity, which will be adequate for treating effluents for the next 20 years.
Goa Meat Complex which will be completely modernised at a cost of Rs 13 crore, has decided to replace ETP at the earliest. The latest ETP plant is of very high quality and the treated water could even be used for irrigation.
The decision came in the backdrop of directions issued by Goa State Pollution Control Board, who during their inspection observed that the ETP is not functional to its full capacity.
The Board has instructed Goa Meat Complex to rectify and upgrade the existing plant within next three months, failing which the Consent to Operate the slaughterhouse would be withdrawn.
Meat complex Chairman Lyndon Monteiro told Herald that as an immediate priority the Complex has begun the process to construct a new ETP, after the environmental consent given to the old one has expired, provoking a notice from GSPCB.
Monteiro said that a new plant would augment the effluent treatment capacity from 65 cubic metres to 265 cubic metres, which is required to cater to the enhanced capacity of slaughtering after the modernization.
“The plant costing Rs 1.4 crore will take care of the effluents of all the three shifts and will also take care of effluents for next 20 years,” he said adding that the work orders for the same have already been issued which will help in disposing waste scientifically.
In 1981, Goa Meat Complex installed 65 cubic meters ETP, when the pollution control norms were not strict so the plant was not sophisticated. In 2001, Goa Meat Complex got grants from the central government to upgrade the plant. Goa Meat Complex floated tender for putting up modern ETP plant of 65 cubic metre capacity.
This contract was bagged by Watermen Lab Pune at the cost of Rs 56 lakh. Waterman lab completed 90 per cent of the work and due to some dispute with the management they abandoned work and filed litigation in the court which is still going on.
Monteiro said that government has worked out a plan for modernization of Goa Meat Complex, the tenders for which would be floated shortly. The modernization would be equally funded by State government (Rs 6.8 crore) and Union Food Processing ministry (Rs 6.2 crore). As the court case is pending, the modernization plans have been kept on hold, he said.