<< Who is the Minister responsible for disposing Garbage? >> Cip F
Seems it is Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Wilfred de Souza! Lawrence ----- See http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=092454 The Navhind Times Saturday, September 24, 2005 Solid waste disposal plant needed in each municipality, says Willy NT Staff Reporter Panaji Sept 23: The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Wilfred de Souza observed that solid waste management plants were necessary in each of the municipalities in the state and chairperson and chief officer of any municipal council failing to set them up would invite punishment as laid down under law. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr de Souza said that the councils had been ignoring the provisions of law with regard to the management of solid waste in their jurisdiction and that the Goa State Pollution Control Board would now deal sternly with them, as per law. He said that earlier the Corporation of the City of Panaji and Ponda Municipal Council were issued notices about a month ago for not taking steps for scientific disposal of the solid waste and the rest of the councils would now be issued notices for disregarding the provisions for disposal of the solid waste in their areas. Dr de Souza said that chairperson and chief officer of any council that fails to segregate the waste and set up solid waste disposal plant could face imprisonment which may extend upto five years. He also accused the councils as well as people for dumping solid waste in open areas. The Deputy Chief Minister also said that awareness should be created about solid waste management plants among the people, even as he went on to add that if the problem was not tackled immediately, then solid waste could create an environmental problem all over the state. He further said that the government has to act immediately to solve the problem and added that the previous government should have followed the recommendations of the House committee with regard to setting up of two solid waste disposal plants at Colvale and Balli respectively, but it disregarded it and attempted to set up housing colony on an area earmarked for the plant at Colvale. Dr de Souza said that a seminar has been scheduled on 'Innovating Cities Across the World' from October 11 to 13 and that he would be attending it in his personal capacity and not officially, in larger interest of the state.
