SALIGAO: Stating that the new government would focus to end garbage menace in the state, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the state budget would make allocation of special fund to village panchayats for garbage collection.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ during his visit to the Saligao garbage plant along with cabinet colleagues, Parrikar said that some 600 tonne of garbage is generated in the state for which at least four garbage treatment plants are needed to deal with this colossal garbage.
Stress would be given on educating schoolchildren in rooting out garbage, he said adding that there has been a plan to keep big garbage bins in villages.
Efforts will be made to set up ‘transfer station’ in the villages and there will be no need for the village panchayat to take the garbage to the plant as it would be collected from the station.
He said the Cacora garbage treatment plant would come into being by next year.
When asked about the other two plants, Parrikar said that Bainginnim and Verne are sites for the proposed garbage treatment plants.
When pointed out about people throwing garbage along the roadside, Parrikar said that policemen would be deployed to keep a watch on this menace, and that a hefty fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed if anybody was caught in the act.
The management of the Saligao garbage plant, which took the delegation around the plant, complained of several inconsistencies in garbage collection and segregation.
Parrikar was accompanied by TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Housing Jayesh Salgaonkar, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Panaji legislator Siddharth Kunkolienkar and GSIDC officials.