VASCO
Congress leader Captain Viriato Fernandes on Friday hit out at the government and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho over the new plan of scrapping vehicles over 15 years old and advised the government to scrap the old casino boats first."The government cannot be insensitive to the lives of the common man who are struggling already and may have taken loans to buy vehicles or use them for taxi to earn a livelihood. We have seen motorcycle pilots who are using bikes which may be old to feed their families at a time when the government cannot offer jobs," said Fernandes.
"In case the government is so concerned about pollution, the government must first scrap casino boats in Mandovi River which were sailing 25 years ago in other countries. The casino operators have modified these boats, repainted and got these old boats as casino boats. These boats have huge powerful engines that cause heavy pollution and we can see the smoke from these boats and the pollution caused by these boats is way less than pollution caused by small engines of vehicles on the road," said Fernandes.
"The Director General of Shipping has issued a new order on February 24 to scrap ships which are over 25 years or recertify them. If these boats can be recertified, why can't the government recertify the vehicles on the road? We believe that the ministers get heavy commissions from vehicle manufacturers to come up with such a law so that people are forced to sell old vehicles and buy new vehicles. The public is well aware and will not stay quiet and I appeal to all the Goans to unite with us and expose the wrongdoings of the government," added Fernandes.
15-yr-old vehicles scrapping is Central
policy, State has to follow: Minister
VASCO: Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday said that the scrapping of vehicles after 15 years was a Central government policy that the State may have to follow. Godinho speaking to media at Goa Airport also said that the Centre has asked the State government to scrap its old vehicles that are over 15 years old.
"Scrapping of old vehicles is a process and will happen whenever it has to happen. While I spoke about scrapping of 15 years old vehicle, it is a central government policy and it is a mandate and instructions given by the Centre which the State has to follow. He maintained that vehicles which are over 15 years and above need to be scrapped and to start with, the Centre has asked the State government to replace its vehicles which are more than 15 years old,” he said.
“We are not doing something exceptional and I know the practical difficulties involved in the entire process. It will take some time to implement this but nevertheless, we have to make a beginning somewhere," Godinho added.
