MAPUSA
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Chairman Mahesh Patil emphasised that the enforcement drive is an ongoing effort to ensure compliance with pollution control norms across the State.
He noted that 70 per cent of the establishments in the capital city, which had been issued notices, have now applied for consent to operate.
Patil disclosed that notices were sent to businesses in several areas of Panaji, including Mala, Fontainhas, Campal and Miramar. The GSPCB had issued show-cause notices to over 100 establishments in the capital city for operating without the required consent from the Board.
"There are many new restaurants and cafés in areas like Mala and Fontainhas. When we inspect one establishment, we also check neighbouring businesses, leading to more notices being issued," Patil explained.
According to Patil, while most industrial units in the State typically comply with the requirement for obtaining consent, many hotels and restaurants fail to do so, often out of ignorance.
"Hotels and restaurants sometimes are not aware that it's mandatory for them to get this consent, and therefore, they don't apply for it," he added.
Under State regulations, any hotel or restaurant serving more than 50 people and preparing food on-site is required to obtain consent to operate from the GSPCB. Small roadside kiosks and juice centres, which serve fewer customers, are exempt from this rule.
The GSPCB recently extended its enforcement to the Morjim and Vagator coastal belt, where several establishments were also found operating without the necessary permission.
Patil confirmed that inspections and issuance of notices will continue as part of an ongoing effort to ensure compliance.
"This will now be a regular exercise. Our officials will thoroughly check establishments for the required consent to operate," he emphasised.
The GSPCB's actions come as part of a broader effort to enforce pollution control norms and ensure that businesses in Goa operate within the state's environmental regulations.
