PANJIM/OLD GOA/ MARGAO/VASCO: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday informed that Goa would most likely to forbid open defecation in future.
“Goa can be the first state in India, where open defecation could be banned. Goa has the best naturalistic environment and its potential as a tourist destination has very good scope to keep the land much cleaner,” Parsekar said.
“There are a lot of places in Goa, where toilets are yet to be built and once that is complete, Goa can be the first state wherein open defecation can be banned in the near future,” he said.
He said that the government has proved to the people that the garbage issue in Goa can be handled in a positive manner and that the Saligao garbage treatment plant “is one of the best examples of how garbage can be converted into electrical power and manure.”
“I suggest that students visit the plant; they should be shown and educated in the manner in which garbage is being treated,” he added.
OLD GOA: Speaking at a Gandhi Jayanti function here on Sunday, Parsekar urged the people from every stratum to maintain cleanliness and make it as a mission of life.
Parsekar also lauded the efforts made by State machinery to maintain cleanliness and urged the teachers to take special effort to inculcate values of cleanliness among the students, which can lead the State in Swacha Bharat movement in the long run.
“Gandhiji gave a message of cleanliness to the nation and now Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has tried to bring that message of cleanliness into reality,” Parsekar said.
Asserting that cleanliness improves the health of the society, he said, “Water borne and vector borne diseases in the State are very much under control compared to last few years, and this could only be attributed to the cleanliness campaign.”
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, verses and prayers were read out from the holy books and artists of Kala Academy presented bhajans and songs, which were regularly recited by Gandhi.
At Vasco, hundreds of people working in State as well as Central government departments, besides schools students from Mormugao Taluka and political leaders along with the party workers participated in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan held at every nooks and corner of Mormugao taluka on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, on Sunday.
A group led by Goa Shipayard Limited (GSL) officers and workers took part in the cleaning campaign from Mormugao Municipal Council to Airport junction.
The campaign started from both the ends of the roads early morning. The campaign was executed by four different teams, from Airport junction and Municipal Council building.
Similarly, to take the Mission Vasco Clean and Green forward, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) with the help of Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida and over 40,000 students from 24 different schools in Vasco and Mormugao held a massive cleanliness drive in 11 wards under Vasco and Dabolim constituency on Sunday.
Similarly, the Cortalim BJP Mandal with the support of RDA Minister Alina Saldanha as well as ZP member from Colva constituency Nelly Rodriguez held a garbage cleanliness drive at Birla Zuarinagar. School students of Mount Litera Zee School participated in the drive.
Likewise, over 10,000 people from Mormugao taluka took active part in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan held at various locations in the taluka.
Meanwhile, Clean Margao and Green Margao conducted a cleanliness drive at various places in Margao, on Sunday.
They were supported by Lions Club of Margao, SGPDA, TCP, Sales Tax staff and school students.
