14 Oct 2021  |   05:44am IST

Beach cleaning was forcibly taken by Tourism Dept: Min

Beach cleaning was  forcibly taken by  Tourism Dept: Min

Team Herald 


MAPUSA: Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on Wednesday stated that beach cleaning was forcibly taken by Tourism Department. 

“Earlier former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had said that only Solid Waste Management will take care of wet and dry garbage in Goa and this is the reason why we are building plant at South Goa and will be building plant at Bainguinim,” said Lobo.

“Beach cleaning was forcibly taken by Tourism Department. I had requested Tourism Minister that he won’t be able to handle it. They don’t understand that collection and treatment goes together. It was not subject matter of Tourism Department. If the Tourism Department says they want to clean the beach then they should clean the whole Goa since tourists go everywhere,” Lobo said.

Lobo said that there is separate department for it and the Chief Minister should take it seriously and next time, make necessary changes. 

“Decision was already made that solid waste management will float tender to collect garbage from the beach but last moment, former chief minister gave it to Tourism Department,” said Lobo.

Tourism Department cannot handle beach cleaning. The officials of Tourism Department are not ready to go on the beach and check whether the cleaning is happening or not. There is always litter on the beaches,” he said.

He also said that fines should be imposed for littering. Our department has right to impose fine,” Lobo added.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar