Calangute, Oct 12 (TOI): Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar is scheduled to visit the site of the garbage treatment plant (GTP) atop the Calangute-Saligao plateau on Monday afternoon to inspect the ongoing works of the GTP which is fast nearing completion. Parsekar had laid the foundation stone for the GTP on November 21 last year. The plant is expected to be completed in 18 months.

The foundation stone had been laid exactly one year after a 37-member delegation had visited Europe in October-November 2013 to see the operation of modern garbage treatment plants in European countries like Italy, Germany and Austria. Once ready, it will be the first modern garbage treatment plant in Goa.

Environment minister Rajendra Arlekar, science and technology minister Alina Saldanha, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and others are also expected to be present during the visit on Monday. The GTP is being built under the science and technology department.

According to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation which is entrusted with the GTP, the plant is being built at a cost of Rs 145.95-cr. The GTP has been planned as a state-of-the-art modern facility based on mechanical biological treatment (MBT) process with proper segregation, recovery of recyclables and bio-methanation process, and will have three sections: material segregation and recycling cengtre, treatment of wet fraction via bio-methanation and composting section, and land fill area for waste inerts. The contract to construct the GTP has been awarded to SMS Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.