July 31, 2025: As part of the TY VET paper on Environment and Sustainable Development, the Department of Political Science at Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Khandola organized an insightful and hands-on study visit to Tato’s Kulaghar, Chodan.
Led by Prof. Dr. Seema P. Salgaonkar (Vice Principal and HOD) and Mr. Akbar Gaded (Assistant Professor), the field visit involved 30 enthusiastic students eager to understand sustainability in action.
Experiencing Sustainability Beyond the Classroom
Students got directly involved in:
🌱 Weeding and planting paddy saplings, learning the physical demands and environmental benefits of traditional farming.
🍲 Sampling local Goan staples like pej (rice gruel), tor (cooked pulses), and traditional chillies — nourishing and culturally rich.
🛁 Participating in a playful yet grounding mud bath near the sluice gate, a rural rite of connection with the land.
The immersive experience bridged textbook knowledge with lived practice, deepening students’ appreciation of ecological balance, rural livelihoods, and local food systems.
“This visit allowed students to connect meaningfully with sustainable development — not just as a theory but as a way of life,” said Prof. Dr. Seema Salgaonkar.
From soil to table, and sweat to smiles, this visit planted the seeds of awareness and environmental responsibility in the minds of Goa’s future changemakers.
Panaji, June 28, 2025 – In a landmark moment for Goa’s business and industrial community, the 117th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) marked a historic leadership transition. Held at Taj Cidade de Goa, the event witnessed Mrs. Pratima Dhond taking over the mantle of President of GCCI, becoming the first woman to lead the Chamber in its 117-year legacy.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant as Chief Guest, Industries Minister Mr. Mauvin Godinho as Guest of Honour, and Mr. Sanjay Kirloskar, Managing Director of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd., who delivered the keynote address.
Outgoing President Mr. Shrinivas Dempo expressed deep gratitude to his team for their commitment and success during his term. He reflected on key initiatives such as:
Influential budget memorandums accepted by state and central governments
Dialogues on taxation and policy
The Leaders at GCCI series featuring eminent names like Mohandas Pai, M.J. Akbar, Vikram Chandra, and Amitabh Kant
The visionary Inclusive & Sustainable Growth@2037 Conclave, which proposed a roadmap for ₹15,000 crore investment and creation of 1 lakh jobs in Goa
Mrs. Pratima Dhond, in her acceptance speech, acknowledged Mr. Dempo’s contributions and shared her vision for GCCI’s future. She outlined a bold, inclusive agenda:
Championing Nari Shakti and women-led development
Advocating future-ready and innovation-led policies
Strengthening MSMEs through easier access to finance
Promoting green business practices and sustainability
Fostering youth engagement, research, and data-driven governance
Amplifying digital outreach for broader impact
In a stirring keynote, Mr. Sanjay Kirloskar shared insights from his journey in building a global business. He proudly announced the upcoming launch of an all-women operated pump manufacturing unit in Goa, inspired by the successful model in Coimbatore.
Minister Mauvin Godinho emphasized the need for a shift in the mindset of Goan youth — from job seekers to job creators. “Goa has immense potential as a manufacturing and export hub,” he said, highlighting the rise in MSME registrations and global integration of local businesses.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant commended Mr. Dempo’s leadership and celebrated Mrs. Dhond’s groundbreaking presidency. He reiterated his vision to make Goa a developed state by 2037, a full decade ahead of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
“We are a small state, but agile. With high literacy, robust institutions, global connectivity, and public goodwill — Goa is well-positioned to lead through unity, innovation, and reforms,” the Chief Minister said. He emphasized initiatives spanning:
World-class infrastructure
Skilled manpower and job linkages
Investment-friendly governance
Sustainable development
Tourism, education, health, and women empowerment
As part of the agenda, Dr. Sawant launched a B.Com course in Retail Management, designed by GCCI to boost Goa’s job-intensive retail sector. He also released the GCCI Bulletin on Sustainable Growth, further cementing the Chamber’s commitment to inclusive development.
Mr. Sanjay Amonkar, Director General of GCCI, hosted the event, while CA Rohan Bhandare, Hon. Treasurer, proposed the vote of thanks.
The charming hill station of Shimla, known for its scenic beauty and cool weather, has been overwhelmed by an unprecedented tourist rush over the past two weeks, leading to a significant strain on the town’s infrastructure. A staggering 300,000 vehicles have entered the town, a surge that has raised serious concerns about traffic congestion, parking shortages, and the overall management of tourism in this popular destination.
In the last two weeks alone, 15,000 vehicles per day have entered Shimla, creating a traffic nightmare for residents and visitors alike. Shimla, a town with a modest infrastructure compared to its tourist demand, has a parking capacity of just 5,000 vehicles. This disparity between the number of vehicles and available parking spaces has resulted in chaotic scenes across the town.
The roads leading into Shimla, which are narrow and winding, have become heavily congested, with traffic jams stretching for kilometers. This situation is further exacerbated by the town’s limited parking facilities, which are not equipped to accommodate the large number of vehicles arriving daily. As a result, visitors have been left circling the streets for hours in search of a place to park, while residents struggle to navigate through clogged roads.
The Impact on Local Life
The influx of vehicles has had a ripple effect on local life in Shimla. Long traffic snarls have led to delays in public transport, and the peaceful atmosphere for which Shimla is known has been replaced with constant honking and the hum of idling engines. The roads, once a quiet haven for tourists and locals alike, are now congested, particularly during peak hours.
Local businesses, especially those dependent on tourism, have felt the impact. While tourism contributes significantly to Shimla’s economy, the current situation has made it difficult for people to even reach their destinations, let alone enjoy the sights and experiences that the town has to offer.
Parking Crisis and Local Solutions
With only 5,000 parking spots to accommodate 15,000 vehicles per day, the parking crisis has become one of the biggest challenges for the local administration. Tourists often park their vehicles outside designated zones, clogging up roads and creating a safety hazard. The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued multiple warnings for illegal parking, but enforcement remains a struggle amidst the heavy tourist traffic.
To address this growing concern, the SMC has proposed several measures, including:
Expanding parking lots: New parking areas outside the main town area could help alleviate pressure on central parking spaces.
Promoting public transport: Increased use of buses and cabs could reduce the dependency on private vehicles, helping with congestion.
Carpooling options: Encouraging carpooling among tourists could also contribute to reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
Timely traffic management: Authorities are looking into more efficient traffic management systems, such as designated entry and exit points, to ease congestion.
The Way Forward: Sustainable Tourism
Shimla’s ongoing traffic woes highlight a need for sustainable tourism management. While tourism is an important contributor to the town’s economy, it is clear that the current infrastructure is not equipped to handle the massive influx of visitors.
Experts suggest that the town needs a long-term solution that balances tourism growth with environmental and infrastructural sustainability. This could include:
Developing more off-peak tourism: Encouraging travel during non-peak months to reduce pressure on the town during the high season.
Investing in eco-friendly transport: Introducing electric buses or shuttle services to ferry tourists from parking areas to popular destinations in the town.
Implementing visitor caps: Limiting the number of vehicles allowed to enter Shimla on a given day could reduce congestion and preserve the town’s charm.
The Role of Local Authorities and Tourists
While the local administration works on long-term solutions, visitors also play an essential role in reducing the impact of the tourist rush. By opting for public transport, carpooling, or using alternate modes of transport like bicycles, tourists can help ease the burden on the town’s infrastructure.
Shimla’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for other popular tourist destinations across India. The balancing act between tourism promotion and sustainable development is one that many towns and cities will have to grapple with in the coming years.
Amaravati, June 18, 2025 – In a decisive move towards environmental sustainability, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has announced a complete ban on single-use plastic across 17 major cities in the state, effective from October 2, 2025—marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and symbolizing a renewed commitment to Swachh Bharat and environmental responsibility.
The decision was unveiled during a high-level review meeting on urban development and solid waste management, where the Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need to combat plastic pollution and reduce its harmful impact on health, ecosystems, and marine life.
The ban will be enforced in the following 17 municipal corporations and key urban centers:
Visakhapatnam
Vijayawada
Guntur
Nellore
Kurnool
Kadapa
Rajahmundry
Kakinada
Tirupati
Anantapur
Ongole
Eluru
Srikakulam
Vizianagaram
Chittoor
Machilipatnam
Bhimavaram
These cities have been prioritized due to their high population density and significant plastic waste generation.
Scope of the Ban
The ban targets commonly used single-use plastic items, including:
Plastic carry bags (irrespective of thickness)
Plastic cutlery (spoons, forks, knives)
Straws and stirrers
Plastic plates, cups, and glasses
Wrapping films and sachets used for packaging
Thermocol (polystyrene) items
The government has also directed municipal bodies to coordinate with manufacturers, retailers, food vendors, and consumers to ensure smooth phasing out of plastic alternatives and promote eco-friendly substitutes like cloth bags, jute bags, paper packaging, and biodegradable products.
Implementation & Penalties
Dedicated enforcement teams will be deployed in each city to monitor compliance. Offenders may face:
Fines for possession and distribution of banned items
Seizure of goods
Cancellation of business licenses for repeated violations
To support the transition, awareness campaigns and training programs for vendors and citizens will be launched over the next few months.
Chief Minister’s Statement
“This is not just an environmental reform—this is a social mission,” said the Chief Minister. “Plastic is choking our drains, polluting our rivers, and damaging our soil. By banning single-use plastic, we are not only protecting our environment but also creating a sustainable future for the next generation. Andhra Pradesh will lead the way in green governance.”
Public Engagement and Alternatives
The state government will work with local NGOs, schools, RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations), and self-help groups to promote reusable products and foster a plastic-free culture through community drives and plastic collection campaigns. Bulk procurement and subsidized distribution of cloth bags are also on the agenda.
Conclusion: As India strives towards its climate and sustainability goals, Andhra Pradesh’s bold step to ban single-use plastics in urban centers could serve as a model for other states. The state’s efforts to combine policy enforcement with citizen participation mark a significant milestone in India’s environmental journey.
Sanquelim, Goa | June 5, 2025 — In a powerful step towards sustainable development and environmental stewardship, Molbio Diagnostics, a leader in healthcare innovation, has donated 10 electric garbage collection vehicles to the Sankhalim Municipal Council in Goa. This green initiative, launched in partnership with the Goa CSR Authority, reflects Molbio’s growing commitment to cleaner communities and climate-conscious solutions.
The formal handover ceremony took place today in the presence of Dr. Pramod P. Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, underlining the state’s strong focus on embracing sustainable technologies in municipal services.
⚡ A Green Push for Goa’s Municipal Waste Management
The electric vehicles, designed for solid waste collection, will now serve across the Sankhali constituency, streamlining daily waste collection with zero emissions and low operational costs. By reducing reliance on diesel-fueled transport, the move is expected to save several lakhs annually in fuel expenses while simultaneously cutting down the carbon footprint of waste management operations.
This contribution is part of Goa’s larger vision under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and ties into the Chief Minister’s sustainability agenda, which emphasizes non-polluting technologies and efficient civic systems.
🌿 Driving Sustainable Impact
Speaking at the event, Amol Lone, President & CFO of Molbio Diagnostics Ltd., emphasized the dual impact of the initiative:
“At Molbio, we believe innovation should serve both people and the planet. Clean surroundings have a direct impact on quality of life, and these electric vehicles are a small but meaningful step toward healthy living and a more sustainable future. We’re glad to play our part in shaping that future.”
The initiative aligns closely with Molbio’s CSR mission, which focuses on blending healthcare, technology, and environmental action to improve lives while protecting natural ecosystems.
🤝 Public-Private Synergy
The collaboration between Molbio Diagnostics and the Goa CSR Authority showcases the positive outcomes that result when private enterprises and public institutions align their resources and goals. The donated vehicles are expected to greatly enhance the Sankhalim Municipal Council’s capacity to:
Collect domestic waste more efficiently
Reduce emissions from daily municipal operations
Lower maintenance and fuel costs
Improve the overall cleanliness and hygiene of local neighborhoods
This marks a significant milestone in Goa’s green infrastructure journey, and further cements Molbio’s status as a socially responsible business leader.
