The responsibility of achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) belongs to every citizen and not just the political class, Goa Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said on Thursday.

Addressing the first 'International Environment and Sustainability Summit' here, he cited challenges and said a solar policy introduced when he was power in the previous cabinet did not get a good response from people.

"I had introduced the scheme with 50 per cent subsidy for generating solar power but it did not get a good response from the people. At the same time, there is also opposition over development projects, including laying power grid infrastructure," he said.

He was apparently referring to the opposition by environmentalists and civil groups to three projects involving laying electricity lines through a sanctuary, rail route doubling and widening of road passing through a forest along the Goa-Karnataka border.

There is demand for 24 hours electricity supply, while, at the same time, there is also a ban on generating electricity using coal, he claimed.

"When we are faced with such a situation, we need to find out how to move forward. The responsibility of sustainable development goals is of each one of us and not just the political class," Cabral said.

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