Government won’t backtrack on Bainguinim plant: Goa minister

PANAJI: Minister for waste management, Michael Lobo on Thursday reiterated that the government will not backtrack on the proposed garbage treatment plant at Bainguinim.
“We are going ahead and things are on the right track,” Lobo said speaking about the status of the waste management project at Bainguinim.
Once the environmental clearance is obtained, the government will float expression of interest for the Bainguinim plant, he said. Stating that work is moving in the right direction on the project, Lobo said that later, the tender document will be finalised and within 45 days of allotting the tender, work on the solid waste management plant will begin.
The minister said the government is committed to provide a state of the art plant to treat garbage of Tiswadi.
He said over the years, it has been proved that panchayats on their own are struggling to deal with garbage, and hence the government had to step in. “There is no other solution to a garbage plant for Tiswadi,” he said.
Regarding the opposition, Lobo said if similar land is available, the government can consider it. But for now there is no other option, he said, adding that the church complex is located 2.5km from the proposed site of the plant.
He also said that the proposed solid waste management plant in Curchorem-Cacora and the biomedical waste plant at Kundai is also on track.
Lobo, who was give charge of the new portfolio less than two months ago, said the plant on the Saligao-Calangute plateau is a model for all.
“All states are welcome to see the state of the art facility at Saligao. I feel the move to have a separate ministry and a solid waste management corporation to take care of solid waste is the best decision to tackle garbage woes,” he said.
Lobo also said that efforts are on to strengthen the Saligao plant.