We,at South Goa Public Interest Action Group (SGPIAG) a registered NGO based in Margao,Salcete, South Goa District ,with jurisdiction, at present, over the entire South Goa Parliamentary Constituency wish to make a fervent appeal to
a) the Minister for Environment Dr Wilfred A De Souza b) the Minister for Urban Dev Mr Joaquim Braz Alemao c) the Minister for Panchayats Mr Subhash Shirodkar d) the Minister for Mining Mr Digamber Kamat e) the Minister for PWD Mr Sudin Dhavlikar f) the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation alongwith their respective Civil Services officers to undertake a tour of the 188 Village Panchayats the 13 Municipalities and the only Corporation of City of Panaji and the mining areas during this week to understand at first hand the cause for the extensive flooding in the State since torrential rains began on Saturday,23rd July 2005 and take up remedial measures to contain the damage to life and property. We have been given to understand as per tele-contacts and personal visits to inundated areas in South Goa District on Saturday / Sunday and this evening that most of the flooding is not as a result of an act of GOD but due to man made violations of the Goa Land Revenue Code, the Building bye-laws of VP and Municipalities and Corporation, the Town & Country Planning Act the Planning Development Authorities rules and bye laws, the Mines Act and Rules. Besides this the Irrigation authorites and the Department of Agriculture and Public Works Department are equally responsible for the neglect of bundhs sluice gates blockade of smooth flow of water and the poor quality of development activity (with public funds filling the coffers of politicians) In short the Government authorities have bent head over heels in abetting with the violator which has resulted in misery to the common man. We also appeal to these Honourable Ministers to restore sanity and ensure that atleast the laws on the Statute intended to regulate development are strictly adhered. Next we appeal to the same authorites to ensure that SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT in the entire State be extended top priority and we should CURB THE GENERATION OF WASTE before we concentrate on SEPARATING COLLECTING AND DISPOSING both the (wet- bio-degradable waste and the dry-non bio degradable waste ) The Government has miserably failed to ensure phased use of not less than 100 microns of plastic to safeguard the interests of the business community in total disregard to the harm it has caused to the environment thereby making a farce of the Plastic free Goa campaign. It dares not demarcate NO PLASTIC ZONES for similar reasons. We therefore appeal to all these Honourable Ministers for you are all responsible to restore Goa to its verdant clean environment at the earliest. Goa's international reputation is destroyed because of the squalor and filth and resultant stray dogs that surrounds the prominent tourist spots, and floods in a State which has otherwise a well nourished riverine flow into the sea but can only be attributed to Man's disregard for nature. We at SGPIAG are most willing to assist the Government of Goa in every respect if it shows sincerity in purpose and a time bound implementation of a CLEAN GREEN GOA or its WEALTH FROM WASTE campaign. For SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP Regd No 171/GOA/2000 dt 12.12.2000 sd/- TERENCE MAZARELO PRESIDENT (SGPIAG) 1st Flr Benlix Bldg Opp Fatima Convent Margao Goa India [EMAIL PROTECTED] weblink http://mumbai.sancharnet.in/manojnd FAX +91 832 2712430 HELPLINE (24 hrs) 9822158584 Tel +91 832 2731373 (O) __________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your friends 'n family snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://in.photos.yahoo.com
