Goa Govt, church tussle over industrial project

Faleiro, who set up a high-powered committee to enquire into the project earlier this month, offered to have it headed by a serving or retired judge of the Bombay High Court after his meeting with Archbishop Raul Gonsalves. The CM even stated that he was acting on a suggestion made by the Bishop. The issue of the Rs 200 crore copper project which was confined to five villages in the state flared up when local residents including Fathers Maverick Fernandes and Martin Dourado who were summoned by the court were caned by police.

The Chief Minister however insists that he is committed to holding a judicial inquiry on the environmental implications of the project. “If the project is found to be environmentally hazardous, I won’t hesitate to shut it down,” he insisted. However, he parried questions posed by reporters on the demands made by the Church for a judicial inquiry against on cane charge on the two priests and the public.

The Meta Strips project mooted by a Maharashtra-based corporate house has drawn flak from some regional politicians of Goa and a section of environmentalists on the ground that it could release toxic substances like sulphur and zinc dioxides into the atmosphere in addition to consuming enormous quantities of water.

Ban on smoking

The Goa Government which is following on the footsteps of Kerala to ban smoking in public is recruiting prominent citizens and non-government organisations to function as watch dogs against offenders.

Chief Minister Faleiro told reporters here that the law enforcement machinery needs to be supplemented by civilian effort to effectively curb smoking in public. “I am working out the modalities,” he told reporters. Faleiro however felt that some of the provisions of the law which curbs the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products in the vicinity of schools, hospitals and places of worship would be difficult to implement. “I will see how much of the law can be implemented," he said.

The state government is also considering a ban on manufacture and sale of plastic bags in Goa, according to the Chief Minister. Faleiro said the government would initiate a dialogue with environmental groups before deciding on introducing a law to this effect.