Goa will be garbage free by Dec 19, 2015: Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the state government will take necessary steps to make Goa garbage free by December 19, 2015. The state government has already decided to establish two high tech garbage treatment plants in North and South Goa. The government has also started engaging panchayats, municipalities and zilla panchayat members to start segregation at source, besides starting non bio-degradable plastic waste collection on national highway 17. Speaking at the Goa Revolution Day function, Parrikar urged people, freedom fighters in particular, to join the drive against garbage and appealed to people to refrain from using plastic for short-term uses so as to avoid littering and damage to the environment. The chief minister also said that the government will depute an officer by the end of June to simplify public services. This announcement came following complaints by freedom fighters of bureaucratic red tape affecting senior citizens as regards government services. -TOI