Claims GCZMA responsible and is in process of employing agency to identify structures
MARGAO
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday said that he has stopped the proposed aerial survey of the State’s coast, saying he saw no role whatsoever for the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in identifying structures along the coastline.
He further pointed out that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is in the process of employing agencies to conduct the aerial survey, asserting that a similar survey by the GSPCB would have amounted to duplication of work.
When the media posed a question to the Environment Minister during his weekly darbar at the South Goa district Collectorate on Friday, Sequeira said, “The reason behind dropping the survey is simple. The survey is stopped by Aleixo Sequeira. I have stopped it since the issue was raised by an MLA during the February session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.”
He added: “The issue was rightly brought by the MLA for the simple reason that mapping or survey of the coastal belt should be with the GCZMA and does not fall in the domain of the GSPCB. When the issue was raised in the Assembly, I had given an assurance that the survey will not be done by the GSPCB.”
As far as the GCZMA is concerned, the Minister said the authority is in the process of employing agency to conduct the survey and in the process of surveying the coastline. “According to me, it is duplication of work when on one side the GCZMA is carrying out the order and the GSPCB was planning to conduct the work. I see no role whatsoever for the GSPCB in identifying structures. That is why we have stopped the survey.”
Secondly, the Environment Minister pointed out that the GSPCB was scheduled to outsource the work when the government has two drones and other equipment at its disposal which could be employed to carry out the survey. “My contention is if we have to do the drone survey, we have in-house equipment and machinery that is required. In such circumstances, we need not go to a third party to conduct the survey. The in-house survey will cost much less than outsourcing the job,” he added.
Why object now, waste management plant at Verna plateau proposed not during my tenure: Aleixo
MARGAO: A day after Concerned Citizens of Nuvem Constituency upped the ante against the Rs 250 crore waste management plant on the Verna plateau, Nuvem MLA and Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said the waste management plant was proposed before he became the MLA of Nuvem constituency.
In fact, the Minister wondered whether those opposing the plant were sleeping all this time and have got up only now. “The beauty of many issues that are raised in Nuvem constituency is that the people have never come to me. Hence, I have no comments to offer what exactly is the objection of the citizens and their demand,” he told the media when his attention was drawn to the delegation that had called on Waste Management Minister Atanasio Monserrate on Thursday.
“How do I know of a problem unless I am told? I have not been approached by anyone till date. If you try to politicise it, than it goes in a different direction,” he added.
SGPDA seeks consent to operate mega retail market from GSPCB
MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has said that the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has applied to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) seeking consent to operate the PDA mega retail market.
Exactly a week after a seven-day ultimatum to the meat traders, the Minister said around 27 meat traders running shops in the SGPDA complex, have applied for consent to operate.
Expressing satisfaction that the stakeholders have cooperated with the GSPCB to resolve the issue of waste water discharge, Sequeira said “Of the 27 stalls, 21 stall owners have applied for consent to operate. The balance stalls will do so in the coming days. Chicken, beef and mutton stalls have applied to the SGPDA. They are helping the Board to resolve the issue,” he said.
To a question, Sequeira said the SGPDA has also applied to the Pollution Control Board for consent to operate. “The PDA will be given temporary consent stipulating the conditions, but we have to understand that they cannot deliver overnight. The PDA has expressed its desire in writing to obtain the consent to operate,” he added.
