PANJIM: Taking a potshot at Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar, Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo on Saturday reiterated that beach cleaning should be handled by Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation.
Speaking to the media, Lobo said, “Tourism Department must concentrate on promoting tourism and getting more tourists to Goa and let garbage be handled by experts. I understand that the Tourism Minister wants the beaches to be cleaned but at the same time we know that Tourism Department does not have expertise in cleaning or garbage handling.”
He said that hence the job of beach cleaning should be handled by the Waste Management Corporation. “If the Tourism Minister wants to be part of the Waste Management Corporation he is welcome, he can even become a vice-chairman under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and monitor day-to-day beach cleaning,” he added.
He, however, said, “Let the tendering process be handled by Goa Waste Management Corporation and under the guidance of the Tourism Minister who could be on board as director or vice chairman.”
Lobo pointed out that even days after Drishti has been given the charge of handing garbage they have started to mobilise vehicles and manpower but the beaches are still not that clean. “This cannot be a stop gap arrangement, there has to be a permanent solution to the garbage menace on the beaches as lakhs of tourists are descending in Goa,” he says.
He says that when tourists see garbage they have totally a different opinion of the destination. “I again request the Tourism Minister to handover the charge of beach cleaning to Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation,” he said.
