Team Goemkarponn
SALIGAO: The Saligao waste treatment facility is preparing for a full operational comeback by November 15, following repairs to its biodigester and a disruption that affected waste processing for 25 days.
The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has worked out a step-by-step restoration programme to bring the facility back to its normal processing levels. The plan involves gradually increasing the quantity of wet waste received at the plant while allowing the repaired system to stabilise.
The facility, which is designed to process 150 tonnes of wet waste daily, had been operating with a reduced intake of around 100 tonnes following technical difficulties with its biodigester.
GWMC Managing Director Harish Adconkar confirmed that the maintenance work has been completed. The plant operator, Hindustan Waste Treatment Pvt Ltd (HWTPL), will now resume waste feeding in phases to ensure that the biodigester functions properly.
Under the restoration schedule, the daily waste intake is expected to increase to 110 tonnes on November 7, 120 tonnes on November 9, 130 tonnes on November 11 and 140 tonnes on November 13. The facility is scheduled to achieve its full processing capacity of 150 tonnes on November 15.
Waste collection services linked to the plant will also be brought back in stages. The restoration programme covers six village panchayats and two municipal councils, with two village panchayats scheduled to be reconnected to the facility every two days.
The disruption had affected the regular disposal arrangements of these local bodies, requiring alternative measures to manage the accumulated wet waste.
GWMC is adopting a gradual approach to restarting operations to avoid putting undue pressure on the repaired machinery. The performance of the biodigester will be closely observed as the volume of incoming waste increases.
The successful restoration of the Saligao facility is expected to ease waste management pressures on the affected local bodies and bring processing operations back to their intended capacity.
The November 15 target will be an important milestone in restoring normal waste treatment services in the affected areas.
