Panaji, Jun 11 (IANS): The Goa government has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with cement major ACC Limited to dispose off plastic, rubber, thermocol and other artificial waste generated in the tourism-intensive state, a minister said Friday

Speaking to reporters here, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira said that as per the MoU, the Gulbarga (Karnataka) unit of the ACC would "consume and dispose" the artificial waste generated in Goa.

"There is no financial implication. Only the Goa government will have to bear the cost of transportation of the artificially manufactured garbage to the ACC unit," Sequeira said, adding that the arrangement would be in place for three years.

"ACC needs the material to add to the cement kiln, which is then used for pyro-processing stage of manufacture of Portland and other forms of hydraulic cement," he said.

"This is the best way to deal with the plastic menace, which has been plaguing Goa. We need to make sure Goa looks green and beautiful without plastic being littered about," he said.

He further said that all civic bodies in the state, municipalities in urban areas and village panchayats would have to gather the material, so that a government appointed agency could handle the transportation to Karnataka.