Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that Salt pan survey which is being undertaken by the Goa State Biodiversity Board will be completed in six months.
MLA Viresh Borkar had questioned asking a detailed list of the Salt Pans owner/farmer/maker along with the areas/location all over the State of Goa along with the data of salt produced/ cultivated every year.
“Salt pan survey is being undertaken by the Goa State Biodiversity Board, only 20 salt pans are left and we are exploring the industrial use of this salt,” said CM Sawant in reply to MLA Viresh Borkar
He further said that governmeny will notify all the salt pans to conserve and preserve them. He said that survey to be completed in 6 months, scheme to support farmers soon.
Sawant further said that during the 10th Five Year Plan, the Government of India has sanctioned a scheme called “Namak Mazdoor Awas Yojana (NMAY) and the scheme was modified in the 11th Five year Plan as “Modified Namak Mazdoor Awas Yojana (MNMAY)” for construction of dwelling units for salt workers.
“The scheme was transferred to Goa Handicrafts Rural & Small scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC), however there were no beneficiaries under the scheme,” he added
CM also said that there is a decline in number of salt pan operational for following reasons i.e demand of sea salt decreased due to introduction of commercial brands of iodised salt as the sea salt is sold in open market.without proper branding.
“Slowly the salt pan owners started converting salt pans into fishing ponds, also some of them moved aboard seeking job,” he said
