Special Correspondent
Panaji
Stating that Old Goa is a world tourism site, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik on Thursday said he will urge the government to shift the proposed Bainguinim-based solid waste treatment plant away from Old Goa in public interest.
“I am not opposing the plant but people are against it,” he said. Speaking to pressmen, Naik said he will convince the government to shift the plant from its current location.
It may be noted that Minister for Waste Management Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate had recently stated that a fresh tender for the Bainguinim-based plant would be floated soon and the project would be a reality.
“The plant work shall start before August 2025,” he had said, adding that the garbage treatment plant will benefit the entire Tiswadi taluka.
Soon after the announcement was made by Monserrate, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Cumbarjua Rajesh Faldessai challenged the minister to start work on the plant in his
current tenure.
Meanwhile, supporting disciplined police reforms in the state police department, Naik censured the errant police personnel for tainting the force’s image.
He said that a lot needs to be done to reform Goa Police, citing some police personnel’s involvement in criminal activities
and misconduct.
“Such acts are damaging the reputation of the police force, the government and the state of Goa,” Naik said while maintaining that Goa’s law and order situation has fortunately improved. He also insisted on improvement in police force through better training and
skill development.
The central minister was responding to the recent revelation by 55-year-old criminal Suleiman Mohammed Khan alias Siddique, who claimed that Goa police recorded his second video at gunpoint and subjected him to electric shock. Siddique, who is in judicial custody, gave these details to reporters outside the district and sessions court in Panaji thus causing embarrassment to the police force.
