Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Marking the occasion of the 126th Damodar Saptah, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Wednesday inaugurated a 16-ton capacity truck along with grass-cutting and fogging machines, with total equipment value amounting to ₹70 lakh.
The inauguration was carried out by MMC Chairperson Girish Borker in the presence of Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik, municipal councillors, and staff members.
Speaking to media after the event, MMC Chairperson Girish Borker said the new additions were much-needed to enhance the council’s daily operations. “We carry out daily collection of wet waste. This newly inaugurated truck has a capacity of 16 tons and will be pressed into service immediately. It will allow us to send 16 tons of wet waste in one stretch to Saligao,” said Borker.
Highlighting the additional machinery, he added, “We were facing a shortage of fogging and grass-cutting machines, so we’ve procured five units of each. With the blessings of Lord Damodar, the MMC has seen significant improvement. We urge citizens to inform us of their requirements so these resources can be optimally used. The truck was purchased for ₹60 lakh and the rest of the equipment makes up the ₹70 lakh total—all from our own funds.”
Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik emphasized the importance of building infrastructure to match the city’s needs. “We were falling short of capacity to transport wet waste, and at times, even two trips to Saligao were not sufficient. This new truck addresses that issue. We’ve also improved revenue recovery, earning around ₹7 crore this year compared to last year, which has enabled us to invest in better facilities.”
Naik also revealed that MMC is exploring innovative solutions. “We’ve received a proposal from GEDA and Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar to convert plastic waste to power, and the matter is under consideration. We are determined to make Vasco a clean and smart city.”
Councillor Yatin Kamurlekar credited recent financial improvements for the infrastructure push. “We’ll be getting two compactors within the next 15 days and have also placed an order for a hydraulic lift breaker to clear trees at height. A new tanker has been tendered. We’ve even managed to purchase new vehicles for the MMC chairperson and the technical section. Gone are the days when staff salaries were a problem—these are better days for the MMC,” he said.
The new equipment is expected to significantly bolster the MMC’s waste management and civic services, especially during the ongoing Saptah and in the weeks to follow.
