Team Herald
VASCO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday appealed to the people of the State to pledge to make Goa clean and green. He said that people of the State should make habit of avoiding use of plastic bags in daily use so that Goa can become plastic-free State.
He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating Rs 40 crore 20 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant with pumping main and ancillary units at Katem Baina on Saturday.
PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, Mormugao MLA Milind Naik, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik, officials from Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa limited (SIDCGL) and others were present on the occasion.
The foundation stone for the work was laid on March 2, 2014 and it took over three years for the contractor to complete the work.
“On October 2, let’s pledge to come together in making our Goa clean and green. He said that Swatch Bharat Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only aimed at cleanliness but also at public health. Also, I want to request the people to stop using plastic bags in daily use so that Goa can soon become plastic-free state,” he said.
Taking a jibe at Congress leaders for their statement that he was neglecting Bahujan Samaj, Parrikar said, “After looting Goa, now Congress is frustrated as the coalition government has been performing well. Now they (Congress) leaders are unable to do any scam and thus under frustration they have been making such baseless statements.”
He pointed out that the Bahujan Samaj ‘rejected’ Girish Chodenkar who contested against him in the recently held by-election to Panjim assembly constituency.
On the recent police raid at the residence of Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, he said, “During the recent raid at the residence police found a room full of matks slips besides other records of properties. He is not the lone leader as even Digambar Kamat property has been attached by enforcement directorate while some two to three leaders are under scanner of investigating agency.”
Meanwhile, the new solar power based 20 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant would benefit residents of entire Mormugao taluka. Though the setup for solar power had been completed but the same would be put to use shortly.
Earlier, the residents from Katem Baina area were always complaining about the smell emitting from the old sewage treatment plant, however with the commissioning of new sewage treatment issue of foul smell would be eliminated. Also SIDCGL has taken initiative of self sustainability and as first step, solar energy is being used for the first time for generation of electricity which would be used for running of 20 MLD plant. The solar plant would also be connected to the electricity grid on net metering basis.
