Move to pressurise civic body to shut existing plant
MARGAO
The stage is set for the crucial special meeting of the Cuncolim Municipal Council scheduled on September 9 which will deliberate and decided on the application seeking NOC to set up the factory building for the controversial fish meal plant in Cuncolim.
Indeed, all eyes are focussed on the special meeting scheduled on Tuesday morning as the issue of the fish meal plant has generated interest and concern amongst Cuncolkars given the bitter past experience of the existing fish meal plant operating inside the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
While the ruling Congress-backed Cuncolim Municipal Council aligned to Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao is expected to reject the application seeking NOC for the proposed factory building, there’s a concerted move made in certain quarters to put pressure on the Cuncolim civic body to shut the existing fish meal plant. For, questions are being raised in Cuncolim as to how the existing fish meal plant, when it is accused for air and water pollution over the last one decade, is still operating inside the Cuncolim Industrial estate.
On the eve of the special meeting, Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas has sent out a message loud and clear that the ruling Council will reject the application seeking NOC to set up the fish meal plant. “Cuncolkars have been battling pollution from the existing fish plant and the fish processing plants over the last one decade. There’s no place for any more fish meal plants in Cuncolim. This is the general sentiment of the people of Cuncolim”, he asserted.
A glance at the special meeting agenda shows that the meeting will discuss and decide on the file received from Goan Marine Impex Pv t Ltd on July 27, 2025 requesting NOC for the proposed factory building, security office building, store shed and compound wall in the town.
The meeting will also deliberate and discuss the pollution generating units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
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LoP questions IPB over shifting fish meal plant to Cuncolim
MARGAO: On the eve of the crucial special meeting of the Cuncolim Municipal Council, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, has charged that certain ruling party people are directly involved to get the fish meal plant in Cuncolim.
Alemao, who represents Cuncolim in the Goa Legislative Assembly, has said that it is shocking to note that despite facing rejection in Barcem village in Quepem taluka, the Investment Promotion board had given the approval to shift the fish meal plant in Cuncolim. “When we are working to get the existing fish meal plant operating in the Cuncolim Industrial estate shut down, there is an attempt to set up the second plant in Cuncolim. As long as I represent Cuncolim, I will make sure that the proposed fish meal plant does not see light of the day”, he said.
He added; “Let the people from the ruling dispensation who are involved in getting the plant at Cuncolim set up the plant in their backyard to know the ill effects of a fish meal plant”.
Demanding to know why Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is silent on attempts being made to set up a second fish meal plant in Cuncolim, the Opposition Leader said he has written to the Chief Minister expressing strong objection to the proposed fish meal plant.
Saying the Congress-backed Cuncolim Municipal Council will reject the proposal at the special Council meeting scheduled on Tuesday, he questioned the IPB for shifting the polluting plant to Cuncolim.
