Sonsodo to Get 10 TPD Waste Gasification Plant in Margao

In a major move to address the waste management crisis in the commercial capital, the Margao Municipal Council has finalised a tripartite agreement with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and Pune-based GD Environmental Pvt Ltd for setting up a 10 TPD gasification plant at the Sonsodo waste management facility. The project is being developed as a scientific alternative to the long-standing problem of burning and dumping of mixed garbage.

For years, Sonsodo has been a symbol of waste accumulation, public inconvenience, and environmental concerns. The new initiative is viewed as an important milestone toward sustainable waste treatment in Goa.

Tripartite Agreement to Enable Waste Processing

According to municipal officials, the agreement clearly defines responsibilities of all three parties. Under the arrangement, the Margao Municipal Council will provide municipal waste to the Pune-based company for processing. The firm will install the gasification unit within the existing waste management shed at Sonsodo, while GEDA will oversee implementation of the pilot technology.

The gasification unit, which will be installed for the first time in Goa, is designed to process mixed waste collected from Margao and adjoining areas. It aims to end the practice of creating new black-spots and reduce the volume of untreated garbage lying in the open.

Project Execution Timeline

Fabrication of the unit has already begun in Pune. As per officials, the equipment is expected to arrive in Goa in the first week of December for installation and integration with existing infrastructure. Once installed, the council expects commissioning of the plant before the end of this year, followed by trial runs and adjustments.

If all milestones proceed as planned, the plant will become fully operational from January 2026, processing up to 10 tonnes of mixed waste per day.

Funding Concerns Yet to Be Resolved

Even as work progresses, funding remains the only unresolved issue in the project. The total cost of the pilot is estimated at ₹7.5 crore. While GEDA has proposed implementation at Sonsodo, the council has urged the government to bear full expenditure, citing the large financial burden on the civic body.

Alternatively, the council has suggested the state government and GEDA cover the capital cost of around ₹3.5 crore, after which MMC will take responsibility for operational and maintenance expenses spread across five years. These expenses include power, water, manpower, maintenance and other daily running costs, amounting to nearly ₹3 crore.

Gasification Technology for the First Time in Goa

The gasification process proposed for Sonsodo is aimed at treating mixed garbage in an enclosed system. Unlike traditional waste handling that results in open dumping or burning, gasification converts waste into synthetic fuel or energy, drastically reducing pollution and land usage.

Officials say that with successful execution, black-spot accumulation in Margao can be significantly reduced. This technological pilot may also become a model for expansion to other parts of Goa.

Civic Impact and Public Expectations

For residents of Margao, waste management has been a persistent concern. Overflowing garbage sites, foul smell, fly menace and health risks have often led to public complaints. The announcement of the gasification plant has raised expectations that the new system will finally change how waste is handled in the city.

Civic officials also stressed that continuing manual dumping or burning is no longer sustainable. The gasification unit is part of a long-term plan to make solid waste processing scientific, decentralised and environmentally viable.

Awaiting Final Funding Decision

While the operational planning is complete, the final approval on funding from the government is still pending. Once confirmed, the project is expected to become one of the most significant waste management developments in Goa in recent times.

If successful, Margao may become the first urban body in the state to adopt gasification for municipal solid waste at this scale.

With legal agreements signed, fabrication underway and commissioning expected by the end of this year, the 10 TPD gasification plant at Sonsodo marks a major shift in Margao’s waste management system. Civic authorities hope the pilot will set the foundation for cleaner public spaces, reduced dumping and advanced scientific waste processing in Goa.