MARGAO
As the Cuncolim Industrial Estate is back in the news for the wrong reasons after the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) unearthed a couple of fish meal and fish processing plants discharging its effluents in the bore wells, Cuncolkars are bracing for a war against the polluting units to ensure the unscrupulous of the lot pack their bags and leave the estate.
The GSPCB raid had unearthed four fish meal and fish processing units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate discharging their untreated effluents into bore wells during an audit and site inspections of the four units.
Dr Jorson Fernandes, who had in the past took the polluting units to the courts, has warned that if some of the industrial owners think they can get away with their misdeeds like terrorists and hooligans, people of Cuncolim will not hesitate to become worse than hooligans to fight against the owners.
People of Cuncolim, especially those residing close to the Industrial estate have long suspected that effluents are being released in the bore wells and open spaces in the Estate as the well water used to emanate contaminated odour.
That the GSPCB inspection with an expert agency have unearthed that the effluents from the fish meal and fish processing plants were being discharged in the bore wells indicates the extent of pollution resorted to by the unscrupulous owners.
“Those who have been discharging their effluents through 8-10 bore wells have no right to operate in the Industrial estate. They have polluted the ground water tables. Our drinking wells have been left contaminated. Tomorrow, they will discharge the effluents in the adjoining irrigation canals. This is not accepted. The owners responsible for the pollution should pack their bags and quit the estate. If they think they are terrorists and hooligans and can get away with the pollution, people of Cuncolim will not sit quite and watch them polluting their environment”, Dr Jorson warned.
He pointed out that the GSPCB should now be equipped with the latest technology to keep the polluting units under their radar. “Since the polluting units use the latest technology to beat the pollution norms, the GSPCB should equip itself with the latest devices to keep the polluters at bay and should not wait for the people to lodge complaints”, he added.
Dr Jorson further demanded to know the role of the Water Resources department, whether the department has been monitoring the bore wells dug inside the Cuncolim Industrial estate. “The WRD ought to explain how the industries dug bore wells, whether there was any permission sought and if not, what action is being contemplated against the units”, he questioned.
Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias said the GSPCB raids come following complaints made to the Chief Minister and other agencies recently. “This is a serious matter as the effluents were discharged in the bore wells, contaminating the ground water and well water”, Clafacio said, while demanding that the illegal and polluting factories should be immediately shut.
