PANAJI: Environment minister Nilesh Cabral said on Monday that Goa consumes the highest amount of fossil fuel in the country as a proportion to population.
“If we want to reduce use of fossil fuels, we have to focus on renewable energy,” he said.
Cabral also said that water quality in some parts of the state has deteriorated thanks to plastic.
The minister said that industry, people, and the political class should work together to meet the objectives required to keep the planet, nation and Goa for future generations.
Speaking at a function organized by the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) on World Environment Day, Cabral said, “We cannot just blame others. We focus on blaming others, we don’t blame ourselves. On this occasion, I would like to blame ourselves, myself first, for being part of the destruction. Each one should take responsibility”.
Cabral said that power consumption has increased because of the 20% floating population. He said that the state government encourages the use of renewable energy like solar power in households, but this has yet to be welcomed widely at the individual level in Goa.
He also said that the state government would come out with a solution to stop the use of single-use plastic. “We will stop plastic of 20-microns and below, and encourage 40-microns and above,” Cabral said.
