MARGAO
Saying that it may cost the exchequer Rs 200 crore to clean up the contaminated River Sal, Salcete's lifeline, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said the government has convened a meeting with various stakeholders on Monday in Panaji, including the panchayats which have adopted resolutions against the nationalisation of rivers to discuss the issues concerning the State rivers.
The meeting has been called by the Chief Minister in an apparent bid to break the deadlock in the wake of the su
stained campaign against nationalisation of Goa's rivers.
The Chief Minister told the media on the sidelines of a programme at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Saturday that the government has called for a meeting on Monday to discuss threadbare. And, ahead of the crucial interaction with the stakeholders, the Chief Minister reminded that River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, is lying in a big mess, adding that it would cost the government a whopping Rs 200 crore for a clean-up of the river.
By claiming that River Sal clean-up will require Rs 200 crore, the Chief Minister has apparently tried to question those who are agitating against the State government's move to seek central funds to take up the development of the State rivers.
"The River Sal is in a state of mess. Who is responsible for the pollution of the river. Have the panchayat bodies initiated any action against the discharge of pollutants in the river," the Chief Minister asked, while saying that it will cost Rs 200 crore to clean up the River Sal.
When asked who amongst the stakeholders has been called by the government for the meeting scheduled on Monday, the Chief Minister said those panchayats, which have adopted resolutions opposing the river nationalisation have been invited for the meeting.
The Monday's meeting assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of a sustained campaign at the gram sabhas across the State, more particularly in Salcete, against the decision to hand over the State rivers to the Centre and to make MPT a coal hub.
The Chief Minister told the media on the sidelines of a programme at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Saturday that the government has called for a meeting on Monday to discuss threadbare. And, ahead of the crucial interaction with the stakeholders, the Chief Minister reminded that River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, is lying in a big mess, adding that it would cost the government a whopping Rs 200 crore for a clean-up of the river.
By claiming that River Sal clean-up will require Rs 200 crore, the Chief Minister has apparently tried to question those who are agitating against the State government's move to seek central funds to take up the development of the State rivers.
"The River Sal is in a state of mess. Who is responsible for the pollution of the river. Have the panchayat bodies initiated any action against the discharge of pollutants in the river," the Chief Minister asked, while saying that it will cost Rs 200 crore to clean up the River Sal.
When asked who amongst the stakeholders has been called by the government for the meeting scheduled on Monday, the Chief Minister said those panchayats, which have adopted resolutions opposing the river nationalisation have been invited for the meeting.
The Monday's meeting assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of a sustained campaign at the gram sabhas across the State, more particularly in Salcete, against the decision to hand over the State rivers to the Centre and to make MPT a coal hub.
