Panaji: October 2, 2017 … Setting an agenda for plastic free Goa, the Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar underlined the importance of work and cleanliness and asserted that these two principles could resolve a number of issues in the State. The Chief Minister said a change in attitude is all that is required and the people should use Cotton & Jute bags which are biodegradable and made from natural resources which were used by our forefathers. This way half of the Garbage problem will be solved.
Parrikar was speaking at the state function at Gandhi Chowk, Old Goa, on the occasion of 148th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Union Minister of State for AYUSH and North Goa MP Shripad Naik, Power Minister and Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, Se Old Goa Sarpanch Smt. Janita Madkaikar, former Power Minister Nirmala Sawant, former MLA Shri Dharma Chodankar, Acting Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shri P. Krishnamurthy, Collector North Smt. Nila Mohanan, Superintendent of Police North Smt. Chandan Chaudhury, Government officers, school children and others were present for the function.
The Chief Minister said that use of flower bouquets wrapped in plastic for welcoming guests at functions should be avoided and instead of flowers wrapped in plastic, only flowers could be given.
The Chief Minister said that a state of art garbage treatment plant would be set up in Old Goa very soon. Stating that a garbage plant can be kept as clean as a factory, the Chief Minister urged those having doubts to visit the state-of-the-art solid waste treatment plant at Saligao before raising any objection to the plant at Bainguinim. People should change their ‘not in my backyard’ attitude.
Verses and prayers were read out from the holy books by Maulana Rafiq Ahmed Sahib, Fr Patricio Fernandes and Shri Devidas Dessai on the occasion.
A group of Kala Academy, Goa led by Smt. Samiksha Bhobe Kakodkar, a well known vocalist, presented ‘bhajans’ at the function which was attended by a large number of school children.
Earlier Smt. Janita Madkaikar, sarpanch Se Old Goa Village Panchayat welcomed the Gathering. The function was compered by Shri Pradip Naik.
Later, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries attended a function organised by Se Old Goa village panchayat to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, at the panchayat premises.
Additional Collector Shri Vikas Gaunekar, SDPO Panaji Shri Nelson Albuquerque; SDO and Deputy Collector Shri Pundalik Khorjuvenkar, Information Officer Shri John Aguiar; Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Shri Dharmesh Angle and others were present on the occasion.
