MAPUSA
In a promising development that could spell relief for the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), a novel proposal may soon convert the city’s garden waste burden into a revenue-generating, eco-friendly solution.
The problem of mounting green waste – from trimmed tree branches to coconut palm fronds – that has long plagued Mapusa could soon become a thing of the past thanks to a proposal from Punjab Renewable Energy Systems Private Ltd (PRESPL), operators of a biomass briquette manufacturing plant in Saligao.
Facing mounting issues due to the lack of a designated dumping site – especially after being barred from using the Assagao plateau – the Mapusa civic body has been grappling with an ever-increasing pile of garden waste, including trimmed tree branches, coconut leaves, and other green waste.
The plant accepts all garden waste including trimmed branches of trees, coconut palm leaves, tender/dry coconut waste and agriculture waste.
PRESPL has recently written to Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) requesting the civic body to deliver segregated biomass waste to its plant site in Saligao.
The Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and PRESPL has jointly set up the project in the State.
The 40 TPD biomass briquette manufacturing plant facility set up in Saligao by PRESPL supplies biomass briquettes to pharmaceutical companies and manufacturing plants in the State.
The companies uses the biomass briquettes as a fuel for briquette-fired boilers.
According to PRESPL, the initiative not only addresses waste disposal issues but also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing open dumping, minimizing harmful emissions from waste burning and replacing fossil fuels with eco-friendly alternatives.
Additionally, the company has offered to provide monetary incentives to MMC based on the quality and type of biomass waste supplied.
For Mapusa civic body, the PRESPL proposal has come as a saving grace as the accumulated garden waste was causing huge problem due to absence of a dumping site after it was recently banned from dumping waste at the Assagao plateau.
"This is a good proposal as we generate a lot of garden waste in the city. We will discuss it with all councillors and take a collective decision," said MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal.
Supporting the initiative, MMC Vice Chairperson Prakash Bhivshet described the proposal as “brilliant,” noting that it offers both an environmental and economic solution to the civic body’s ongoing struggle.
“We were in a bind over the increasing garden waste. This proposal allows us to manage the waste efficiently while offsetting transportation costs through the incentives offered,” Bhivshet added.
If approved, the collaboration with PRESPL could mark a significant step forward in Mapusa's waste management strategy and serve as a model for other municipalities in the State.
