FESTIVE FUSION: Students perform during the Liberation Day celebrations at the Goa University grounds, Bambolim on Friday.
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has called upon citizens, tourists and industries to take collective responsibility for keeping Goa clean and green, stressing that environmental protection is crucial for safeguarding the State’s fragile ecosystem and sustaining its tourism-driven economy.
Addressing the issue of waste management and environmental degradation on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day, he said every individual must be conscious of their duty towards maintaining cleanliness. He appealed to Goans as well as visitors to cooperate with local panchayats and municipal bodies and refrain from dumping garbage in open areas, rivers or along roadsides.
Highlighting the role of industries, Sawant issued a stern warning against the discharge of hazardous waste or untreated wastewater into rivers and nalhas. “Industries must ensure strict compliance with environmental norms. Protecting our rivers and natural resources is a shared responsibility,” he said.
Sawant noted that the government has established multiple waste management plants across the State to improve scientific handling of solid waste, adding that grassroots-level efforts by panchayats and municipalities are already underway to address the problem.
Emphasising Goa’s global reputation as a tourism destination, Sawant said tourists visit the State to experience its beaches, rivers and scenic beauty. “If we want to boost and promote tourism, we must ensure these natural assets remain clean and well preserved,” he said.
Sawant also underlined the need to preserve the environment for future generations, stating that it is imperative to hand over a clean and green Goa to those who come after us. He urged people from all sections of society to actively participate in achieving the vision of Viksit Goa 2037.
