Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar urged green activists to strike a balance between development and environment during the inauguration of the 5th Goa Environmental Festival on Friday.
Mr. Parrikar told environmentalists to give up travelling in cars if they wanted mining to be stopped in Goa. “I will stop mining from tomorrow provided activists start using bicycles. When you use a car, you too are consuming steel that comes from mines,” said Mr. Parrikar. The Chief Minister said he did his bit to save electricity and ensured lights and the AC in his office were switched off before leaving his chamber.
Mr. Parrikar said pollution and not coal import should be curbed as the fossil fuel was essential for power generation.
He was alluding to the growing opposition against the import of coal through the port town of Mormugao. He said, “We should stop pollution, but not import of coal. How else would you get electricity?”
Earlier, wildlife filmmaker Shekar Dattatri said development had to take place with minimum destruction.
‘Heal wounded planet’
Mr. Dattatri said the government must work with mutual trust and respect to heal the wounded planet. The festival is being organised by NGO Kalakruti in association with State-owned Goa Kala Academy.