PANAJI
The spat has continued between Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho over the issue of digital taxi meters and waste management, with Lobo claiming that the “self-proclaimed leader from Dabolim” had no right to criticise the work of waste management department.
“A self-proclaimed leader from Dabolim, who is also the senior minister, has failed to resolve the garbage issue in his constituency,” said Michael Lobo at a news conference, making an obvious reference to Godinho. “He has no right to criticise the work of the waste management department when he failed to resolve the garbage issue in his 25-year long tenure as MLA.”
Lobo said around 1,000 cubic metres of waste from Dabolim constituency has been treated at Sonsodo by the waste management department.
“Besides, 1,000 cubic metres of waste is still lying in Dabolim constituency as one MLA objected to lifting of waste from Dabolim constituency,” said Lobo. “The waste was not cleared even though the municipal council was allotted funds for it. As an MLA, Godinho is responsible for the waste problems in his constituency. I am not against him and he is a tall leader, but I have to speak on behalf of poor taximen,” said Lobo, while defending his decision to pursue the cause of taxi operators.
Lobo recalled that BJP was made to suffer in the 2017 elections due to mistakes by some ministers who took anti-people policies. “BJP was reduced from 21 to 13 MLAs. If we make the same mistake, we will suffer. All MLAs from the coastal areas will be affected by the decision of the transport minister,” warned Lobo.
Elaborating on the work done by his department, Lobo said nearly 1 lakh cubic metres of waste from the 2 lakh cubic meters of legacy waste at Sonsoddo is treated at the Sada Garbage Treatment Plant. Besides, 5,000 tonnes of waste in Panaji and 98 tonnes of waste from Mapusa were also treated,” added Lobo.
The two ministers have been sparring in public since the last few days over the issue of installing digital meters on taxis.
While Ports Minister Michael Lobo has demanded free installation of digital taxi meters in view of the pandemic-induced financial distress, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday slammed Lobo for trying to sell them fake dreams and bluntly told Lobo to mind his own business.
