PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the enhancement of treatment capacity of Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) at Saligao to 250 TPD (+ 20%) at an approved project cost of Rs 103.87 crores.
The proposal for enhancement of the SWM at Saligao through the existing concessionaire Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt. Ltd (HWTPL) on nomination basis was earlier placed and approved by the Council of Ministers in its XXXIX" Cabinet Meeting on February, 18, 2019.
The cabinet on Wednesday also resolved to approve the payment, in the form of Gross Annual Operational Support Grant of Rs 11.22 crore per annum against the operation and maintenance of the plant over the period of 6 years through State Government Funds.
It also approved the installation of Solar Power Plant in consultation with Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA).
For the above, the Cabinet also gave its nod for incorporation of the necessary changes in the Concession Agreement already vetted by the Law Department and Legal Counsel with respect to Gross Annual Operational Support Grant
The cabinet also approved the issue of LoA/ Work Order to Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt. Ltd. through the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) subjected to approval of above-mentioned points for enhancement of SWMF at Saligao.
Interestingly, when the project was approved a year ago on February 18, 2019, the estimated cost was just Rs 82.15 crores, which is now over Rs 100 crore.
The Cabinet note further says that the proposal was placed before the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) on May 5, 2020, with respect to the cost escalation and the same was approved in the meeting.
GWMC also conducted cost analysis considering the concessionaire proposal with GSR 2015 (with escalation up to March 2019) amounting to Rs 104.15 crore as against the present proposal (GSR 2019) of Rs 103.87 crore, the note says.
The note adds that the entire funding of the project shall be done on EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) mode by GWMC through loan proposed to be taken from Bank of Maharashtra at ROI of 7.70%.
“The payment shall be done on various stages of completion as agreed and mentioned/ detailed in the LOA/work order. Operational Grant would be adjusted accordingly for 250 TPD + 20 % additional which is duly vetted by the committee,” it says.
It further says that an amount of Rs 2.90 crores has been factored for installation of Solar Power Plant of 500 kW in-terms of Environmental Clearance. It shall be taken up separately in consultation with GEDA on the model of setting up, operations, revenue and in-terms of the State solar policy.