-- Samir Umarye
Replying to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Naresh Sawal about fear and anxiety in the minds of the people of Bicholim, that Bicholim River is getting polluted, Environment and Forest Minister Alina Saldanha said that Goa State Pollution Control Board’s monitoring of the river had found that most parameters were within prescribed limits, except that “ … the total coliform exceeds the prescribed limits which may be attributed to localized site – specific human interference.” Sawal raised the issue that probably garbage was being thrown into the river. The minister said that the BMC should be directed to adopt door-to-door collection of segregated waste, wherein bio-degradable waste could be composted and non-bio-degradable waste could be balked and sent to an authorized recycler and have a public awareness campaign. Meanwhile, in another issue directed at the environment minister, independent MLA Vijai Sardesai wanted to know whether there was any permission given to Zuari Industries to construct a captive jetty at Santrem, Chicolna for berthing of vessels to transport materials such as phosphoric acid, liquid ammonia or urea. Alina replied that no such permission was given. However, to a further query about a meeting and discussion and whether the government was contemplating on giving permission, the chief minister replied that queries about assumptions were not allowed. When Sardesai asked whether the minister was qualified to answer the question, it led to an altercation between the two which led the Speaker to intervene. This led Sardesai to remark, “Why are you not allowing the minister to speak?” [H]
