Rs 10-cr bio-waste composting plant proposal sent to GWMC: Chicalim sarpanch

Vasco: Several issues, including garbage disposal, and illegal constructions were discussed during the gram sabha of Chicalim panchayat, which was held on Sunday.

As the garbage disposal issue was raised, Chicalim sarpanch Sebastiao alias Seby Pereira, who chaired the meeting, told the gram sabha members that the panchayat is following up the proposal for setting up a 10 tonne capacity bio-waste composting plant, estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.

“The panchayat has sent the proposal for setting up bio-waste composting plant to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), and it is being followed up by the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, who is the legislator of Dabolim constituency. The plant will be installed under corporate social responsibility (CSR),” said Pereira.  

He also said that Chicalim Communidade has provided 4,500 square meters of land on a lease to set up the plant, and added that it will take about 6 to 7 months for the plant installation.

“Panchayat will continue handling of garbage on a daily basis by disposing it into pits by taking all care, as there is no other option left with the panchayat body due to lack of space/land,” he said.

The issue pertaining to the illegal constructions was raised by Pratap Mardolkar.

In his reply, Pereira clarified that  “panchayat has never encouraged any kind of illegal constructions in its jurisdiction. We have issued stop work notices to the illegal constructions, following complaints from the people. The panchayat body will not encourage any new constructions in the near future.”

The gram sabha members also have raised the issue of mobile tower which was installed at the time of eighth annual BRICS Summit which was held in the state in the year 2016.

The tower is near Mohiddin Saw Mill at Chicalim.

“The additional director of panchayat had issued an order to remove the mobile tower in 2018, but the panchayat received the order only in February this year. The panchayat has issued notice to the contractor to demolish the controversial mobile tower, but he has failed to give reply to the panchayat,” said Pereira and further informed that the panchayat will soon sought the help from demolition squad to remove the tower.