MARGAO: Claiming that there is rampant conversion of orchard land into plots across the state, Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday said that in order to curb the practice, the TCB board will meet post panchayat polls.
He was speaking to media persons after launching the work of hot-mix carpeting of the road at a hotel at Seraulim near the wholesale fish market at a cost of Rs 1.6 crore.
He said, “Orchard land is not only being converted into plots in Khareband, Margao but it is done rampantly all over Goa. Action needs to be taken. There is a need to look at it on a case-to-case basis. There is a lot of demand for settlement land and plots,” he added. He was reacting to the news of conversion of orchards into plots at Khareband allegedly with support of a councillor.
Sardesai then visited the Sonsoddo area where bioremediation of garbage was underway. He said, “What is the point if waste keep coming at the site when we attempt to reduce the quantity of the waste dump through bioremediation,” Sardesai asked when he witnessed waste from Fomento-run solid waste management plant dumped over the open dump.
Sardesai later called the Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco at the site. Both explained the media how their attempts to clear the waste dump were foiled. “We need to take action. The dump needs to be fenced to prevent other waste from being dumped,” the minister added.
Sardesai, who is also Agriculture Minister, informed that a Krishi Mellava will be held on Sunday at the Ravindra Bhavan to encourage farmers. He also informed that a Farmer Forward scheme will be introduce in state.