GOA Will Be Plastic Free In 2018 As Resolved By Govt: CM Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has resumed work from his office at Secretariat in Porvorim three months after treatment in The United States ending speculation in political circles. In his first public  address after resuming   duties ,Parrikar, 62, an IIT Engineer turned politician, reminded the people  that  the fight against colonial power in the coastal state was yet not over.All efforts are being made to make the State
free of plastic this year.
Parrikar after undergoing treatment  for pancreatic ailment  returned home last week .He was speaking at a state-level function in Panajin to commemorate the Goa Revolution Day.
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha was the chief guest at the event.
“The struggle which began in 1946 resulted in the liberation of Goa in 1961 but I feel the fight is yet to get over. Parrikar reminded the people at the Azad Maidan recalling the problems  faced by people living in the evacuee properties at Mayem village in the state.
“The issue of Mayem (evacuee properties) is a part of this struggle (against colonial rule) and I am personally working to resolve it as soon as possible,” he said.
Mayem, a village with around 30,000 population located in North Goa district, about 20 km from the state capital, has been declared as an evacuee property, owned by Portuguese nationals who left the place and settled in Portugal after the state’s liberation in 1961.
The Goans, living as tenants on the property, have been fighting for their rights.
Freedom fighter Chandrakant Pednekar also called for the need to free the land in Mayem village for the ownership of Portuguese people.Parrikar regretted that   that due to  his illness and long absence from the state, the government’s commitment  to make Goa  plastic free in 2018 was delayed.
“We will work towards making Goa free of plastic this year. The state government’s resolve towards this was delayed due to my sickness but it will now gain momentum again,” he said.
Parrikar said he had himself seen how some educated people dumped plastic bags full of garbage on roadsides.”We are a tourist destination.We should remain tourist friendly .Our State  should also remain neat and clean”,he added.
He called upon the people to “light the flame of knowledge”.
“The need is to have a revolution of knowledge in the state and not just education,” he said.
The Goa Revolution Day is observed as on this day in 1946, freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia had given a clarion call to fight against the Portuguese regime.
The movement later led to the liberation of Goa on December 19, 1961.(inputs from TOI).