PANAJI: Following in the steps of 17 states and Union territories across the country, Goa too is all set to implement a total ban on the use of plastic bags and other related items from May 30 next year.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of 56th Liberation Day at Campal on Tuesday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the State Government would move in the direction of banning plastic from May 30. He also called upon people to take a pledge to make Goa garbage-free by December 19, next year.
"From May 30 next year, we will impose a total ban on plastic in Goa. We are announcing this in advance so that if any economic activities are connected with plastic, the concerned person should submit a representation to the State Government. Not only carry bags, but other associated items with plastic will also be banned," said Parrikar.
"Swachh Bharat, Nital Goem is the most important thing on my priority list. Before we celebrate the next Liberation Day, let us pledge to make Goa garbage-free. We have already set up Goa Waste Management Corporation through which we are running the Saligao garbage treatment plant and in the days to come, work on three other plants will commence," he informed.
Speaking further, he informed that he has already cleared the file to increase grants to panchayats for waste management.
"By January 26 January all the laws for making Goa garbage-free will be in place. Once they are notified, the implementation will begin from January 27 onwards. We will appoint special squads for the same," he stated.
Parrikar also informed that the State Government aims at reducing the number of road accidents to less than half in the next two years.
"Last year there were 326 deaths due to road accidents and this year too the number will be close to 300. On an average the same number of people get seriously injured. In the last 20 years nearly 10-12000 families gave had to go through this trauma. We have to look at this issue seriously. Taking some NGOs together we are working out an action plan to reduce deaths due to road accidents. In the first two years the target would be to reduce these deaths to half the number", he said.
Parrikar also informed that in the next five years infrastructural works of nearly 25,000-30,000 crore will be carried out in the State.
"Currently there are lots of infrastructure works going on in the State. The third Mandovi bridge will be completed by May-June 2018. The work on Galjibag bridge is expected to get over by 2018. In the coming five years infrastructure works of nearly 25,000-30,000 crore will be carried out in the State", he said.
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L-DAY SPEECH
HIGHLIGHTS
* Not only carry bags, but other associated items with plastic will also be banned
* Before we celebrate the next Liberation Day, let us pledge to make Goa garbage-free
* By January 26 January all the laws for making Goa garbage-free will be in place
* Aiming to reduce the number of road accidents to less than half in the next two years
* In the next five years infrastructural works of nearly 25,000-30,000 cr will be carried out
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State govt okays
industrial policy
PANAJI: The State government on Wednesday approved the Industrial Policy, focusing on employment to Goans, said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
"Employment is another major issued faced by Goans. There are ample of employment opportunities in the State, but Goans prefer specific employment which includes either government jobs or office jobs. We have already declared the IT policy and the implementation will begin within the next month. Today itself I have approved the industrial policy which focuses on employment to Goans. Through this policy incentives would be provided to companies employing more than 80 per cent Goans," he said.
