TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: Admitting that his objective of a ‘clean and green Porvorim’ has suffered a setback, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte stated that three panchayats in his constituency have not got any financial support from the State government despite repeated requests.
Addressing a news conference in Porvorim, Khaunte said Penha de Franca, Socorro and Salvador-do-Mundo panchayats have already started garbage collection on a door-to-door basis and are segregating the waste.
“Penha de Franca Panchayat has also received a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ from the Goa State Pollution Control Board for joining the initiative of the State government for management of non-biodegradable dry and plastic waste,” informed Khaunte.
“Panchayats require good infrastructure to treat garbage, for which financial assistance from the government is a must. I have had several meetings with the Task Force set up by the government, but in vain. Unless and until the three panchayats in my constituency receives financial assistance from the government, it will not be possible for the panchayats to achieve our objective of a ‘Clean and Green Porvorim’,” he said.
Khaunte further said the Serula Communidade has given 5,000 sq mtrs of land to the Socorro Panchayat to set up mini-garbage treatment plant.
“Socorro Panchayat had requested the Town and Country Planning department to grant approval for its garbage treatment plant. However, the file is pending with the TCP since the last one-and-half year and till date, no approval has been accorded to the Socorro Panchayat.”
“The State government had sent a delegation abroad spending lakh of rupees to make a study of garbage treatment plants in Europe, but there has been no sign of setting up garbage treatment plants here,” said Khanute.
“The State government is also not offering any financial assistance to panchayats for the disposal of garbage. Unless Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the environment minister take active interest in this issue, the problem of garbage will never be solved,” said Khaunte.
