MARGAO, DEC 15
Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat on Wednesday sought a firm commitment from the students of city schools to keep the city clean and green.
He was speaking at the science festival II organized by the Aquem Baixo Navelim social cultural association at the Fatima convent high school, Margao.
The Chief Minister urged the students to think that the city belongs to them and help maintain the city clean and green. “It is sad that elderly people throw out garbage from their flats and apartments. This can be stopped only if the children force their parents to observe sanitation and dispose off the waste as per rules”, he said.
The Chief Minister along with the PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai, former MLA Farrel Furtado participated in Combating Climatic Change – Save Planet Earth Rally in the commercial capital.
In his address, PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao said that the garbage problem can be solved if each individual takes care of own waste. “But, instead of tackling this burning, what we find is that NGOs oppose the developmental projects taken up by the government in the state”, he said.
Alemao said that the Chief Minister is a person who does not want to hurt anyone, but that does not mean that anyone can just come out and oppose the government projects.
He cited the instance of Singapore and added that things are not moving in the state as there are people around who misguide the populace due to vested interests.
GPCC General Secretary Vijay Sardessai said Goa is a tourist destination and underlined the need to tackle the burning issue head on, especially along the coastal belt.
In her address, Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik sought cooperation from the people of Margao to streamline garbage collection and disposal. She said the Margao civic body would soon launch a major drive with the support of the Chief Minister to bring about awareness amongst the people on the garbage front.
The function was coordinated by the Vice-Chairman of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary School, Farrel Furtado e Gracias.
