Panaji: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Thursday said that the aim to achieve sustainable development goals is not only the work of the political class but also each one of us.
Addressing the first International Environment and Sustainability Summit in Goa, Cabral said that during his lasat tenure as State Power Minister he introduced Solar Power policy in the state but there was no good response.
The minister pointed out that while there is need to provide green energy, there is also resistance from the people to change to the alternate source of power.
“I had introduced the scheme providing 50 per cent subsidy for generating solar power in the state but unfortunately, I could not get the good response,” he said.
The minister said that at the same time, people were opposing laying of new electricity lines from the grid. Cabral was referring to the opposition of environmentalists for the three linear projects in the state including laying of electricity wires through wildlife sanctuary, double tracking of railway line and also expansion of the road passing through the forest section on Goa-Karnataka border.
He said that while there is demand for 24 hours electricity supply, there is also ban on generating electricity using coal.
“When such a situation arises, the thought comes as how do we go forward,” he said. Cabral said that the Sustainable Development Goals should not only be the aim of political class but each one of us have to work towards it.
