the goan I network
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Panchayats should start levying fines on people and restaurants that are found throwing garbage in open spaces. Unless this fear of levying of fines is created in the minds of the people the mission of ‘Swatch Goa’ will not succeed, said Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo. He was speaking at Socorro at the programme ‘Mission Plastic Free’ organised by Socorro panchayat.
Stating that people staying in rented houses are the main culprits, he said that these people while going to work in the morning throw their garbage on the road.
Lobo said that the panchayat is only a collection agency. The ‘Swatchata Hi Seva’ mission should in fact start from every household. Every household should segregate the garbage generated in their houses and deliver it to the panchayat for disposal. Michael Lobo further mentioned that the work of Rs173 crore garbage treatment plant at Cacora has begun. In a couple of days the agreement will be signed. There is need of one more plant at Verna. The problem is that the people are opposing the setting up of the plant at even Industrial estate. One must remember that garbage is nothing but energy. At the Saligao plant, garbage is converted into biogas which in turn is converted into electricity. The people should change their mind set and look at the garbage as energy and not waste, said Lobo.
The Sarpanch of Socorro Panchayat Sandeep Vazarkar in his welcome speech mentioned that the mission of collecting plastics which is being started on Friday will continue till February 13 and plastics from every ward will be collected. Vazarkar requested Minister Lobo to arrange the new garbage collection vehicle for the panchayat.
The Block Development Officer D. Vaigankar also spoke on this occasion. During this occasion the two dust bins for keeping dry and waste garbage separately were delivered to the individuals who have paid the house tax at the hands of Lobo.
The compering of the programme was done by panch member Sheetal Arolkar and Dy Sarpanch Dipali Satardekar proposed vote of thanks.
