PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat has asked village panchayats in the jurisdiction of Cortalim and its surrounding areas, to initiate steps for setting up of garbage disposal plants in their respective areas, to get rid of the garbage menace.

The Chief Minister stated this at a meeting held with the elected representatives of the local self government bodies from Cortalim areas and Airport Authorities at the Secretariat, Porvorim on Monday.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker, Mr Mauvin Godinho, Chief Secretary, Mr Sanjay Shrivastava and Mr Ajit Naik, MD, IDC.

Mr Kamat said most of the municipalities and a few panchayats have taken steps to setup garbage disposal plants within their jurisdiction, so that this major problem affecting the state can be tackled.

Referring to the demand of the Deputy Speaker, to allot land belonging to IDC, which is lying idle at Verna Industrial Estate, to setup a modern garbage treatment plant, the Chief Minister asked the local representatives, airport and IDC authorities, to sit and discuss and identify a suitable land for the
said purpose.

It may be noted that a number of incident of bird hits at Dabolim airport has increased in recent times, causing problem to the safety of aircrafts and air travelers, and therefore, the meeting felt the need to initiate precautionary measures. The increase of bird hit incidents at Dabolim airport are attributed to the increase in the volume of garbage dumped in the close vicinity of the airport.

The airport authorities who participated in the deliberation assured to support the endeavour as regards setting up of garbage disposal plant at a centrally located location.

Issues pertaining to allotting existing islands from Mormugao taluka to the Indian Navy for its security, expansion of Dabolim airport and other issues were discussed at the meeting.