SANJAY BORKAR
PONDA
After being directed to stop operations for failing to set up their own Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), the seven micro units from the Bethora Industrial Estate (BIE) have now requested their parent company to process their effluents as a short-term solution to prevent jobs from being lost if they shut down operations.
While hectic efforts are afoot by these seven micro units to get their parent company to process their effluents from September 8 onwards, the Bethora Industrial
PONDA
After being directed to stop operations for failing to set up their own Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), the seven micro units from the Bethora Industrial Estate (BIE) have now requested their parent company to process their effluents as a short-term solution to prevent jobs from being lost if they shut down operations.
While hectic efforts are afoot by these seven micro units to get their parent company to process their effluents from September 8 onwards, the Bethora Industrial
Estate Association (BIEA) has appealed to the government to set up a common ETP for all units in the estate as a long-term solution.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued notices to 18 industries to shut down operations for failing to set up ETPs, following a Supreme Court order stating that industries across the country which do not have operational ETPs should be closed down.
The apex court had taken serious cognizance of effluents (liquid waste) flowing into water bodies from the industries in the absence of an ETP.
Seven of the 18 industries ordered to be shut down are located at the Bethora Industrial Estate. Incidentally, all seven of these units are engaged in the powder coating of fan blades for a company and each of the seven unit releases 150-200 litres of water into the soakpit per day.
Speaking to The Goan, BIEA President Sunil Kesarkar said all seven black-listed units have approached the fan manufacturing company to process their effluents.
When contacted, one of the seven unit owners said he had written to the company to process their effluents. "We used to release the effluents into soakpits constructed in our own premises. Now, the government has issued us a notice close down, as we don't have ETP," said the unit owner, while speaking on condition of anonymity. "How we can set up an ETP as it requires an additional 100 metres of land to construct it? We will have to spend over Rs 5 lakh on this ETP," the owner added.
Sources told The Goan that many of the 80-odd units at BIE do not have ETPs and they have been requesting the government to construct a common ETP for the entire Bethora Industrial Estate.
Kesarkar said the unit owners have made temporary arrangement to dispose their effluents. "But there should be a permanent solution and we have been demanding for a common ETP. Three years ago, a survey was undertaken to have a common ETP, but efforts went in vain as authorities did not pay heed to the demand. The unit owners are willing to pay the government to set up this common ETP," Kesarkar said.
BIEA Secretary Mahesh Gaitonde feared that if the these seven units are shut down, almost 300 workers would lose their jobs. "This decision will not only affect the owners but also the workers. The government should help resolve the situation," he added.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued notices to 18 industries to shut down operations for failing to set up ETPs, following a Supreme Court order stating that industries across the country which do not have operational ETPs should be closed down.
The apex court had taken serious cognizance of effluents (liquid waste) flowing into water bodies from the industries in the absence of an ETP.
Seven of the 18 industries ordered to be shut down are located at the Bethora Industrial Estate. Incidentally, all seven of these units are engaged in the powder coating of fan blades for a company and each of the seven unit releases 150-200 litres of water into the soakpit per day.
Speaking to The Goan, BIEA President Sunil Kesarkar said all seven black-listed units have approached the fan manufacturing company to process their effluents.
When contacted, one of the seven unit owners said he had written to the company to process their effluents. "We used to release the effluents into soakpits constructed in our own premises. Now, the government has issued us a notice close down, as we don't have ETP," said the unit owner, while speaking on condition of anonymity. "How we can set up an ETP as it requires an additional 100 metres of land to construct it? We will have to spend over Rs 5 lakh on this ETP," the owner added.
Sources told The Goan that many of the 80-odd units at BIE do not have ETPs and they have been requesting the government to construct a common ETP for the entire Bethora Industrial Estate.
Kesarkar said the unit owners have made temporary arrangement to dispose their effluents. "But there should be a permanent solution and we have been demanding for a common ETP. Three years ago, a survey was undertaken to have a common ETP, but efforts went in vain as authorities did not pay heed to the demand. The unit owners are willing to pay the government to set up this common ETP," Kesarkar said.
BIEA Secretary Mahesh Gaitonde feared that if the these seven units are shut down, almost 300 workers would lose their jobs. "This decision will not only affect the owners but also the workers. The government should help resolve the situation," he added.
