Team Herald
PANJIM: Taking an indirect dig at the Goa Foundation’s Claude Alvares, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral claimed that the black substance found on beaches of Keri and Benaulim was charcoal.
Cabral took a pot shot at Goa Foundation’s Alvares saying that his lies have been exposed on the issue.
“A learned person like him must check and recheck before making such wild allegations,” he said.
Cabral said that the substance found on Keri and Benaulim beaches was analysed by Goa State Pollution Control Board and was found to be charcoal.
“It is not coal for sure but we are yet to determine the chemical composition of the substance,” he said adding Alvares was trying to create fear amongst people by claiming that coal has washed ashore.
Cabral said the GSPCB in the past has been successful in resolving the tar ball issue.
“Our chemical analysis was successful in concluding that the tar balls were result of oil from high seas of Mumbai,” he said.
The minister also said there needs to be some action for such false claims.
“I have asked Claude to apologise and if not he will submit report to the Chief Minister. Let the government decide what action to take,” he said.
