PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday admitted that his illness and absence from the State has delayed the plan to make Goa plastic free by May 2018 and has given a new deadline.
“We will work towards making plastic free Goa in 2018. The State government was committed to make Goa plastic free by May 2018 and garbage free by the year end. However, the entire process delayed due to my sickness but it will gain momentum now,” Parrikar, who returned last week after three months of being treated in the USA, said.
“I assure everyone that I will sort out all issues. We will work again and with speed,” he said, speaking in presence of Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day, at the State level function at Azad Maidan.
Speaking further, Parrikar rued that he has witnessed how even educated people throw plastic bags full of garbage along the roadside and into River Mandovi. “There is a reason why even educated people behave like this. It is because they are educated but without knowledge,” he said. Parrikar said that on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day we should torch a flame of knowledge. “The need is to have a revolution of knowledge in the State and not just education,” he said.
