Sonsoddo plant may shut after March 18
TNN | Updated: Jan 24, 2019, 05:53 IST
PANAJI: Frustrated with the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for being unable to segregate garbage at source, Fomento has served the MMC an intent to terminate notice, as per which the company may shut the composting plant at Sonsoddo after March 18. Fomento, which operates the plant for MMC, has asked the municipality to submit a plan of action within 60 days, failing which the company will be free to terminate its contract for the composting plant.
It is the only plant available to compost waste from Margao, the surrounding coastal belt, and extension areas like Nessai, Fatorda, Curtorim, among others.
Advisor for Fomento, Prashant Sardesai said that presently 80% of the nearly 80 tonnes of garbage received per day at the composting plant at Sonsoddo is not compostable. He said this is because it comes to them in the form of mixed waste. Sardesai said that MMC has also failed to pay the promised amount as per agreement to Fomento to operate the plant. While Fomento had set up the plant at the cost of Rs 18 crore on February 2, 2011, and has spent Rs 10 crore so far to operate it, it has received only around Rs 3 crore from the municipality.
“Rs 1-2 crore is being spent each year to operate the plant, but we get barely Rs 10 lakh from the compost. MMC claims the plant is not operational. How can the plant be not operational when we are paying Rs 70,000 in electricity bills? More than 80% of the waste we get cannot be composted and are rejects,” Sardesai said.
He said that despite the various breeches in agreement, Fomento had put off sending a notice to terminate the contract to MMC until now so that people from Margao do not suffer. However, Sardesai said, Fomento has now tried everything in its capacity, including meeting ministers, local MLAs, and municipal officials to resolve issues and was now at its wits end.
“At a recent meeting, we were told by municipality officials in a very insulting manner that we should exit the contract or change the technology. This was the last straw. How can we change the technology now. It is being used as per the contract. In the past, we told MMC that if they cannot segregate waste to tender this work. But they are sitting on the tender,” said Sardesai.
He said Fomento has informed the directorate of municipal administration and the local MLAs before the notice to terminate was served to MMC. MMC said it is yet to receive the notice.
It is the only plant available to compost waste from Margao, the surrounding coastal belt, and extension areas like Nessai, Fatorda, Curtorim, among others.
Advisor for Fomento, Prashant Sardesai said that presently 80% of the nearly 80 tonnes of garbage received per day at the composting plant at Sonsoddo is not compostable. He said this is because it comes to them in the form of mixed waste. Sardesai said that MMC has also failed to pay the promised amount as per agreement to Fomento to operate the plant. While Fomento had set up the plant at the cost of Rs 18 crore on February 2, 2011, and has spent Rs 10 crore so far to operate it, it has received only around Rs 3 crore from the municipality.
“Rs 1-2 crore is being spent each year to operate the plant, but we get barely Rs 10 lakh from the compost. MMC claims the plant is not operational. How can the plant be not operational when we are paying Rs 70,000 in electricity bills? More than 80% of the waste we get cannot be composted and are rejects,” Sardesai said.
He said that despite the various breeches in agreement, Fomento had put off sending a notice to terminate the contract to MMC until now so that people from Margao do not suffer. However, Sardesai said, Fomento has now tried everything in its capacity, including meeting ministers, local MLAs, and municipal officials to resolve issues and was now at its wits end.
“At a recent meeting, we were told by municipality officials in a very insulting manner that we should exit the contract or change the technology. This was the last straw. How can we change the technology now. It is being used as per the contract. In the past, we told MMC that if they cannot segregate waste to tender this work. But they are sitting on the tender,” said Sardesai.
He said Fomento has informed the directorate of municipal administration and the local MLAs before the notice to terminate was served to MMC. MMC said it is yet to receive the notice.
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