‘Industry, tech firms must devise waste plans’

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant urged the industry and technology-solutions companies to collaborate to set up waste management and treatment facilities in the state, particularly an industrial waste treatment plant.
Sawant emphasised the need for such partnerships to enhance the waste management infrastructure in Goa. “We all know the importance of converting waste into manure or energy.But who should do it?” he said. “Everybody says that it is the duty of govt, but I believe it is not the job of govt alone. Technology providers and people from the industry should come together to take the initiative.”
He promised all help from govt for such an initiative.
“Come to us for any help — be it for technology or for setting up a unit. But you should take the initiative to convert waste into wealth,” he added.
Sawant said that an inquiry has been launched by govt after it came to light that industrial wastewater was brought in night soil tankers to Tonca sewage treatment plant in Panaji.
“Instead of taking it to an effluent treatment plant, they were bringing it to the STP,” he said.