Panaji: For the first time, the sewerage and infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa limited (SIDCGL) knocked on the doors of the planning commission of India and managed to obtain a grant of Rs 80 crore for its proposed sewerage works in the state.

The sanction follows the recent visit of a high-level delegation of the Goa government headed by chief minister Digambar Kamat, heads of departments and senior bureaucrats for a meeting with the planning commission of India for the finalization of the plan size for Goa for the year 2011-12.

However SIDGCL representatives handed a presentation to the planning commission explaining Goa's woeful sewerage system, detailing their own projects to overcome the problem and requesting for central funds for the projects.

The corporation had pleaded for a total sum of Rs 1,785 crore, of which, the corporation asked for budgetary provision of Rs 300 crore for the current year and the balance amount in a phased manner of four years. The planning commission has however sanctioned Rs 80 crore to the corporation.

The corporation has initiated five sewerage projects in Goa, all totalling Rs 1,785-crore. The first is a sewerage scheme for Porvorim and surrounding areas in Bardez taluka at an estimated cost of Rs 210 crore. The second is a sewerage scheme for Navelim and surrounding areas in Salcette taluka at an estimated cost of Rs 192 crore. The third is a sewerage scheme for Cortalim and surrounding areas in Mormugao taluka at a cost of Rs 500 crore.