PANJIM: The State government has decided to restrict the number of visitors to eco-tourism destinations in the State in a bid to protect the environment and also boost tourism. In another decision, the government contemplates to ban the use of plastic at Dudhsagar waterfalls.
“We should keep the place spotless. In fact we should ban plastics (at Dudhsagar falls)… It receives over two lakh tourists. We should not be greedy and we must stop all arrivals at the spot to maximum of 2.5 lakh, which is sustainable. At the most we can increase some potential in the rainy season, if any. But sustainability of all such spots is equally important,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said at the national function to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity – 2017 at Kala Academy on Monday.
Parrikar, who is also the Chairman of the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), suggested that strict compliance will ensure protection of the ecology in the State which is famous for several eco-friendly spots. “The moment we realize any tourist spot is gaining popularity, we jump at it and destroy the spot, its biodiversity and its specialty. Goa is good for tourism and we will ensure the environment is not damaged,” he added.
He went on to add that tourism in Goa can go on at the speed it is growing in the present scenario with the help of biodiversity and environment. “The GSBB should take this message to the people and make them more knowledgeable (about the importance of environment),” he added.
At Dudhsagar, the CM said, tourists should be asked to deposit plastics before entering the zone and to carry them, if they want to, while exiting.
On the handling of waste in the State, Parrikar commended the task carried out at the state-of-the-art Garbage Treatment Plant despite opposition from NGOs. “We set up the Goa Waste Management Plant (GWMP) at a place which was degraded. Around 2.5 lakh tonnes of garbage were dumped at the site and we not only treated the dump, the garbage treatment facility possibly ensures that the coastal belt, if not 100 percent, remains reasonably clean. We found challenges from the organisations who thought it would be a sham,” he said recalling the matter was even dragged to the National Green Tribunal that allowed it to operate following a number of hearings. The plant saw visits from 40 ministers from different states including Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to understand the technology.
He also stated that Goa was the first to get sequential batching technology for waste treatment, a model that can be used to clean River Ganga.
On the issue of CRZ, Parrikar stated that cases from Goa are more than any other state. “We are struggling to control illegal construction in the CRZ from 1991 to 2007,” he added.
The function was followed with the launching of Indian Biodiversity Awards 2018, launching of UNDP-Capacity Building ABS Project, release of 1st issue of NBA’s Newsletter “Biodiversity Matters”, and prize distribution for Photography Competition. An exhibition on the theme IDB-2017 is the special feature and has over 30 stalls by local, National and global stakeholders.
