PANJIM: The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has submitted the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study report for the proposed Bainguinim solid waste plant (SWMP) to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).
The GWMC has now approached the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to conduct a public hearing for the proposed facility. It maybe recalled that this project has been pending for nearly a decade now.
A senior official said that the Corporation has already evaluated the EIA report and has now written to the GSPCB to conduct the mandatory public hearing, following which it can approach the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) for the Environmental Clearance (EC).
Official added that they have approached the government for administrative and financial approval for the facility, which will handle 250 tons of waste daily.
In 2015, the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had sought a detailed analysis from the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) over the possible social, economic and environmental impact on the State due to the proposed modernized solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim. However, in 2017, the project was handed over to GWMC with CCP transferring the land admeasuring 1.71 lakh sq mters to the waste corporation.
With a capacity of 250 tonnes, the facility at Bainguinim would handle the waste generated in five constituencies of Tiswadi taluka – Panjim, Taleigao, St Cruz, St Andre and Old Goa.
In a bid to expertise the work, CCP will seek inputs from Hindustan Waste Treatment, the company operating the facility at Saligao; for setting up the treatment facility at Bainguinim.
