MAPUSA
After multiple setbacks, the State government is gearing up to issue a fresh tender for the fifth time for the much-anticipated solid waste management plant at Bainguinim.
The project, which has faced numerous hurdles over the years, is expected to be revived with updated terms to attract more bidders and integrate advanced technology.
Minister for Waste Management Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate has confirmed the decision to restart the tendering process.
This will be the fifth attempt to establish the plant, as four previous tenders floated for the facility either did not find any takers or were shelved midway, leaving the project in limbo.
The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) initially floated a tender in 2019 for a 250-tonne-per-day (TPD) solid waste treatment plant at Bainguinim.
However, due to various challenges, including bidders failing to meet the technical qualification criteria, the process was lapsed.
A senior GWMC official explained, “Initially, no bidders qualified under the stipulated conditions. To address this, we decided to relax certain terms and refloat the request for qualification (RFQ).”
Subsequently, the corporation scaled down the project to a 100-TPD plant and reissued the tender in September 2022, with the estimated cost pegged at Rs 120 crore.
The RFQ process shortlisted three companies and the next stage – floating a request for proposal (RFP) – was expected to follow.
However, the expansion of the Saligao treatment plant was prioritised, further delaying the Bainguinim project.
The third time it was tendered, there were no takers until December end in spite of the Corporation issuing corrigendums extending the bidding deadline five times.
The tender was floated for a fourth time last year but the Corporation itself shelved the process midway because of a government decision to more than double its capacity to 250 tonnes per day.
Timeline for implementation
The senior official cautioned that the process would take time.
“It may take three months or more to finalise the RFQ because there is a procedure to be followed,” the official noted.
Once operational, the Bainguinim plant will play a crucial role in addressing Goa's mounting waste management challenges.
The government’s renewed push is seen as a critical step in ensuring sustainable waste treatment infrastructure for the State.
Residents and environmental activists will now be watching closely to see if this third attempt finally delivers the long-awaited project.
