Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has asserted that the solid waste management plant coming up at the Calangute/Saligao plateau is for the entire North Goa, while another one will be set up at Cacora-Curchorem to cater to South Goa.
Addressing media persons after inspecting the North site on Monday, Parsekar stated, “I am pleased with the pace of the construction work as 80 percent has been completed. We have placed an order for the machinery, which should arrive soon. The installation will be done within two or three months and the plant will start operations by March 2016.”
He continued, “The plant will handle 150 tonnes of garbage per day and work in three shifts daily. We may have to set up collection points to transport the garbage. There will be no problems for the people while transporting garbage on our roads as the trucks will be covered and mechanised handling will be done. The Goa government has not spent any money, but payment of Rs 29.9 crore will be made yearly for 10 years after the successful commission of the plant.”
Meanwhile, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo stated that the solid waste management plant will cater to only the North Goa coastal belt and not the entire district.
He added, “I am happy that my initiatives for having a garbage plant and making Calangute garbage-free will become reality soon. However, if we want Goa to be the first State to fulfil the ‘Swachh Bharat’ dream, three more plants should be set up at Cacora, Verna, and at the South coastal belt. The South coastal plant should cater to coastal villages as most of the garbage is generated from beach belts. The government should also coordinate with panchayats to successfully collect and transport waste to the plants.”
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, Panjim MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar and Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) Vice Chairperson Pramod Sawant were also present at the site.
