Goa: Heated Margao municipality meet over sopo remains inconclusive

MARGAO: Heated discussions were witnessed at the special meeting of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) held recently over the issue of the sopo collection contract.
While the contract has already expired, the process for appointment of a new contractor has been mired in controversy with the civic body divided over whether the collection auction should have a three-year experience as criterion for qualification. Tempers flew at the meeting, but the issue remained inconclusive.
The issue of door-to-door collection of garbage was also discussed at the meeting. The extension given to the contract of door-to-door garbage collection expires on July 31, and though the council had floated tenders for a new contract, the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) had rejected them after some discrepancies were observed. After much discussion it was agreed that the existing contractors be given further extension of three months, upto October 2022.
The estimated cost for refurbishment of the existing waste management shed at Sonsoddo prepared by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) was placed before the council. The GWMC has asked MMC to take administrative and financial approval for the works estimated to cost Rs 4.2 crore so as to enable GWMC to undertake them as deposit works. GWMC will float tenders for the works once the approvals are obtained.