Panaji (GOA): After a decade long struggle to set up its own plant at Bainguinim to treat the waste generated in Panjim and surrounding areas, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has decided to hand over 1.75 lakh sq mtrs of said land to State government, who proposes to set up Solid Waste Management and Treatment facility.

During a meeting held this week, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked CCP to hand over the land to the Goa solid waste management corporation, where it proposes to have a plant similar to that of Saligao.

Bainguinim facility will cater to garbage from municipal areas in North Goa together with waste generated by the city. The facility is proposed to be set up with funds from the Union ministry of urban development along with a contribution from the state government under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Government in 2006 had issued notification for land acquisition at Bainginium and in 2008, land was awarded measuring 1.75 lakh sq mtrs to CCP.

CCP Commissioner Deepak Desai said that though government has verbally put up its demand, the corporation will have to wait for official proposal before deciding on it. “Also the council will have to pass the resolution for handling over the area,” he said.

CCP proposal to have a waste treatment facility had drawn flak from several quarters. The matter had even reached the High Court, who ruled in favour of the government. Despite that the corporation failed to initiate any steps for setting up the facility.

Despite preparing a DPR for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the CCP has not been able to utilize the land apart from building a wall around it.