Create awareness among people about garbage conversion: CM

Panaji, Aug 26 (UNI) Deploring the mindset of people to oppose location of garbage treatment plants, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat called for raising awareness among masses on the need for tackling the garbage menace by cooperating with the authorities.

''Create awareness among the people that conversion of garbage into compost is the only solution to get rid of the major garbage problem in the state,'' he observed, while addressing a meeting at the Agnel Technical Education Complex at Verna where environment minister Alexieo Sequeira launched the first ever Pilot Project of Organic Waste Converter (OWC) today.

He had emphasized the need to educate children about the ill effects of garbage so that they can in turn pass this important message to their parents and help government in its sincere efforts to find out appropriate solution to the garbage menace.

The unit converts wet waste (biodegradable) into compost (organic manure) in an eco friendly manner. The unique project initiated by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Goa, is being implemented through Agnel Technical Education Complex.

Terming the launching of this project as a step in the right direction, the Chief Minister underlined the need to change the mind set of the people to tackle the garbage problem.

The Chief Minister further said that, whenever the government took up such initiatives to set up projects, people suspected that the project was not a treatment plant but a garbage dumping yard.

The society should realize their responsibility for the disposal of garbage, he said, adding that people should make introspection to take care for disposal of their own garbage.

Complimenting the Department of Science, Technology and Environment and Agnel Technical Education Complex for taking up the project jointly, he said if the project became successful, the Government would replicate it in other places involving educational institutions and village panchayats.

Minister for Environment Alexieo Sequeira, who inaugurated the project costing about Rs 11 lakhs, said the government would leave no stone unturned to see that the project became a great success.

This mechanism will be like a self employment project for the youth of the village which apart from ensuring conversion of organic waste into compost in ten days will help tackle garbage problem, he said, adding that need of the hour was to motivate farmers to take up organic farming for proper usage of compost.

Stating that the Government was seized of the garbage problem, the Environment Minister said that today 80 per cent garbage comprised of bio degradable waste which could be effectively tackled.

The organic manure produced can be sold in open market to farmers, nurseries, household educational institutes and forest department for landscape and gardening.

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