The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has made progress over its plan to set up a garbage treatment plant on the outskirts of the town, even as the BJP-led coalition government was trying to put systems in place to achieve its objective of making Goa garbage-free.
MAPUSA
However, the decision has been delayed because the council was yet to decide on two available sites to set up the plant.
The civic body has got required permissions from most of the regulatory bodies and needs to only finalize the MoU with the Gurgaon-based company to set up the waste treatment plant. A top official in the know said that the civic body has got a go-ahead from the Goa State Pollution Control Board and environment clearance to set up the plant at Assagao plateau.
However, sources informed that the council was considering an alternative site, besides the Assagao plateau, to install the plant. Refusing to go into the specifics, MMC Chairperson Rohan Kavlekar said the council would discuss the draft MoU of the company.
“Once we receive the draft MoU, it will be placed before the council for discussion and only then an appropriate decision will be taken by the body,” Kavlekar said.
The chairperson confirmed that the council was seriously looking at the possibility of setting up the plant on another site, but refused to name the place.
Sources in the Gurgaon-based company told The Goan that discussion with the Mapusa Municipal Council was in advanced stage and the signing of MoU was held back only because of the site.
“The council has shown us two sites where it wants us to set up the plant. Once it decides on the spot, we will sign the MoU and soon begin our work,” a top company official said.
It may be recalled MMC had in principle agreed to the proposal put up by the Gurgaon-based firm, Observing I Ecotech to set up a waste treatment plant.
The company was willing to invest Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore to build the plant on land of around 4,000 to 5,000 sq mts provided by the council.
MMC will have to effectively pay Rs 600 per tonne per month to the company for the service, besides taking care of water and electricity which will go in treating the waste.
Besides providing 20,000 litres of water per day and 75 HP electrical load, the MMC will have to also ensure that minimum 25 tonnes of garbage is supplied to the company on a daily basis.
