PANJIM: Goa may inspire Maharashtra to tackle its increasing problem of garbage, with neighbouring State toying with the proposal of constructing solid waste treatment plants similar to that of Saligao.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Deputy Speaker and director of Goa Solid Waste Corporation Michael Lobo and local MLA and Minister Jayesh Salgonkar visited the Saligao treatment facility on Saturday.
“It was interesting to visit and know about the Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd (HWTPL) plant at Saligao, Goa with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar,” Fadnavis tweeted.
“This plant processes 120-180 tonnes of garbage everyday, which is recycled in a scientific way and produces compost and electricity too,” he tweeted further.
Speaking to Herald about the visit, Lobo said that Maharashtra Chief Minister was highly impressed with the technology and he held discussion with HWTPL on having similar facilities in his State, which is also facing severe garbage problem.
“We showed him (Fadnavis) the entire plant and the way it functions. He was informed about how it produces compost and electricity,” Lobo said adding ‘he was impressed the way the facility works in scientific manner and has been working without causing any environmental issues’.
Maharashtra chief minister expressed his concern about increasing construction debris and e-waste in their State and discussed about the same for solution with HWTPL.
The plant, earlier this month, began supplying surplus power generated by it to the state electricity grid. Presently, the plant generates 340kW an hour, over 7,000kW on a daily basis. Of this, the plant requires an average of 4,000 kW to run. The government will pay HWTPL for the 3,000kW at the rate of Rs 2.4 per unit.
The plant that began functioning last year has been generating power from municipal solid waste since June last year.
The surplus will be fed to the Saligao sub-station and supplied to neighbouring coastal villages.
