TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: After much uproar, the Corporation of the City of Panaji on Tuesday resolved to petition Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for funds to set up the garbage treatment plant at Bainguinim. A special meeting of corporators has been called on Wednesday to hammer out solutions to manage garbage and debris dumped along the roads.
CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado informed corporators that the appraisal committee under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Rural Mission (JNNURM) has approved Rs 90 crore DPR drafted by CCP for solid waste management and the same has been moved to the Union Ministry for Urban Development which would meet on February 24 on the issue.
The Corporation’s ordinary meeting saw animated debate on garbage issue with corportors seeking reply as to why CCP failed to tackle the long pending issue. The Mayor accused the state government for not providing funds and said, “It’s not CCP but government which has failed to reduce the garbage menace in the city,” he said.
Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues requested the corporators not to politicize the issue but work for a solution.
Corporator Rudresh Chodankar suggested that CCP should lead a delegation to Chief Minister seeking funds for the Bainguinim plant, which was agreed to by all. The garbage issue was discussed after Corporator Shubham Chodankar pointed out that the garbage facility near LIC Patto is emanating a foul smell and the garbage there is piling by the day.
Replying to the same, Rodrigues assured to close down the facility if it continues to release foul smell and informed CCP plans to set up an organic waste convertor there to eliminate odour. The Commissioner admitted that CCP is struggling to find a site for a garbage treatment facility and matter pertaining to Bainguinim was sub-judice.
Former Mayor and Councilor Tony Fernandes suggested that Taleigao MLA could be approached to allow dumping and treatment of Panjim garbage at the Taleigao site which was initially developed by CCP.
