Team Herald
PORVORIM: Minister for Panchayat Mauvin Godinho informed the house on Thursday that the Government is committed to handle the increasing menace of the garbage in the State of Goa. He said the Government also intends to increase the funds to the village panchayats in coming financial year for the collection of garbage.
Minister was replying to the question raised by the St Cruz MLA Antonio Fernandes. MLA has brought to the notice of the House that the funds which are sanctioned annually by the department is not enough to handle the garbage as cost of the collection, segregation and transportation is gone high.
Fernandes wanted to know why the village panchayat is acquiring land for garbage plant when two state of the art garbage treatment plants are coming in both the districts.
However, Godinho informed the house that out of 191 village panchayats in the State only 55 panchayats have identified the land while only six panchayats have acquired the land for garbage disposal.
He mentioned that the panchayats are identifying land for the garbage treatment because of the High Court order that says every panchayat should have their own disposal site.
“Even if the garbage treatment plants are coming in both the districts, the site acquired by the panchayats will be utilised for the segregation purpose. I cannot do everything overnight; the funds allocated are very less. This government is committed to handle the garbage issue and we are moving in a right direction”, Godinho said.
He informed that the director of panchayat has categorised the panchayats and accordingly the funds are being released. Some of the panchayats are getting even Rs 7 lakh per year, he added.
Vellim MLA Felipe Neri Rodrigues suggested formulating some policy to acquire the land so that private owners can be compensated.
