http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Garbage-plants-junket-raises-stink/articleshow/24955529.cms
[image: The Times of India] <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/> Garbage Plants' Junket Raises Stink TNN | Oct 31, 2013, 03.01 AM IST MARGAO: Deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Francis-D'Souza>will lead a 37-member delegation to Italy, Austria and Germany, to observe the functioning of theirsolid waste management plants<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/solid-waste-management-plants>, as the state plans to set up two such plants at Cacora and Calangute. But of the touring members, barring a handful, including some officials of the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB), hardly anyone else has the acumen to understand the technical or financial viability aspects of the project. While six are elected representatives a significant number are members of civil society. They leave on November 7 and return on November 14. Sources say the selection of the civilians was done in a haphazard way, with those perceived as potential opponents of the project being picked up. When questioned, D'Souza saw nothing wrong in the absence of any criteria for the selection. "Those who cannot understand (despite explaining) should be taken to see the actual project," he said. While environment minister Alina Saldanha, whose name was cleared by chief minister Manohar Parrikar, has opted out, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar is the other minister, besides D'Souza on board. The remaining legislators are Michael Lobo (Calangute), Nilesh Cabral (Curchorem), Subhash Phaldesai (Sanguem) and Pramod Sawant (Sakhali)-all from the ruling BJP. Saldanha, when contacted, told TOI, "The only reason I am not going is because I felt that four persons-Jose Manuel Noronha, Levinson Martins and Sanjeev Joglekar (all GPSCB) and Sanjith Rodrigues (GSIDC)-are technical people. If they are satisified with the plant and that it is the technology we are looking for then the purpose is served. I am not an engineering student and will only look at the externals of the plant." When pointed out that no environmentalists or garbage experts are on board, she said, "I have full faith in the people who are going." Five to bear own expenses? Another development that has raised eyebrows is the latest order of Levinson Martins, director, department of science, technology and environment. It states that five of the 37 delegates will have to bear their own air travel expenses. For the rest it is an all expenses paid junket sponsored by Goa state infrastructure development corporation. "The state government has approved that the total expenses of air travel/accommodation/food and transportation between three countries during the entire tour will be borne by GSIDC under the project head," the order states. Rocha Pereira, Anand Prabhudessai, Pradeep Naik, Atchut Kakodkar and Pradip Kakodkar however "will bear their own expenses of air travel expenses, to and from Goa". It does not say why. While Pereira, Prabhudessai and Naik are councillors of Curchorem-Cacora municipal council, Atchut and Pradip are Curchorem residents who had expressed strong reservations about the plant's functioning during the government presentation at Curchorem this month. Pradip told TOI, "First of all, it is the government who invited us to be part of the delegation. Until today, we have not been officially informed that five of us will have to pay for the tour. When I inquired with the department on learning about this order, I was casually told by an official that expenses of five persons will be borne by an MLA." Infuriated, he questioned the government's motives. "I told the officer in clear terms that enjoying the trip at somebody else's expenses would deprive me of my freedom to express my independent opinions about the plant. I would not like to go on this tour with a prejudiced and biased mind arising out of some sense of obligation." Cabral, when contacted, said the order was "misinterpreted" and following his discussion with the CM on Wednesday, the department will issue a fresh order on Thursday that "the expenses of all touring members, without any exception" will be borne by the government. "Whatever issue there was has been sorted," the MLA said. Martins, when questioned, said, "The five persons were over and above the recommendation and therefore have been excluded." 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