PANAJI
Close on the heels of tar balls ravaging Goa’s coastline, the State government on Monday decided to write again to the Centre to tackle this annually-occurring phenomenon.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral disclosed that the State will again petition the Ministry of Environment and Forest as there was no action from it on the report sent by the State environment department two years ago.
“This is an annually-occurring phenomenon and is beyond the control of the State government. Our government will again write to central ministry to take immediate action”, Cabral said.
Loads of tar balls have surfaced on around the 105 km beach shoreline in recent days. The quantum of the tar balls this year is so high that major beaches frequented by tourists have turned black.
It may be recalled that two years back, based on a research done by scientists on measures to control oil spillage into the sea, the State government had written to the Centre for immediate measures to control the menace.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress criticised the government for its inaction to control tar ball menace.
“The BJP is in power at the Centre and the State. Despite this, there is no action to tackle this menace”, Trajano D’Mello, Congress spokesperson said.
