This issue had come to haunt successive BJP govt’s since first fish meal plant started operating in 2012
File photo of water discharged from the Cuncolim IDC into the adjoining ponds.
MARGAO
With just 25 days to go for the commencement of the new fishing season, fish meal and fish processing units dotting the Cuncolim industrial estate may soon undergo maintenance ahead of the new season.
In fact, fishing stakeholders will look forward for a good fishing season beginning from August 1. Cuncolkars, waging a sustained battle against pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial estate, may have a question for the government and the authorities, including the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GPSCB) – has the government put in place a mechanism in the form of a Common Effluent Treatment (ETP) to treat the effluents discharged by the fish meal and fish processing units dotting the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
This question assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the fish meal and the fish processing units at the Cuncolim IDC will go in full operation after the new fishing season starts from August 1. The moot question, however, has still remained unanswered – has the authorities installed the common ETP to treat the effluents before the contaminated water is discharged out from the estate.
Indeed, when agitated Cuncolkars descended at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate in October 2023, they came across untreated water from the industrial estate discharged out, leaving the water bodies contaminated.
Agitated villagers had left the industrial estate after issuing a warning to shut down the fish meal and fish processing units in the Cuncolim IDC. In a bid to clam frayed tempers, the government rushed to announce that the solution to the untreated fish water discharge from the Cuncolim Industrial estate is a common ETP.
The promised ETP
only on paper
Where is the promised Common ETP for the fish meal plant at the Cuncolim IDC? It is a question that may come to haunt successive BJP government’s since the first fish meal plant started operating at the Cuncolim IDC in the year 2012.
In fact, Cuncolkars may have heard about the promised common ETP umpteen times over the last one decade, but in vain.
Otherwise, consider this. In mid-September 2016, then Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Jose Manuel Norohna conducted a surprise inspection of the Cuncolim Industrial Estate to check reports of pollution by the fish meal and fish processing industries in the state.
After the inspection, Norohna announced that the only solution to the fish water discharge at the Industrial estate was to set up a common Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). That’s not all. The GSPCB Chairman announced that the fish processing units at the Cuncolim IDC have agreed to contribute Rs 25 lakh each towards the cost of the Common ETP.
ETP issue in the Goa
Legislative Assembly
The issue over the pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial estate over the discharge of fish water had its echo inside the Goa Legislative Assembly at almost every Session in the last two years. After Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao raised the issue during zero hour in January 2013, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was prompt in issuing a warning that the pollution fish meal and fish processing units will be shut down in Cuncolim if they are found defaulting in operating the Effluent Treatment plants.
Common ETP backed by
CM Pramod Sawant
After nine long years, the common ETP seemed to have favour with the BJP government headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant when he gave an assurance both within the Assembly and outside that the discharge of water from the fish meal and processing plants will be treated by a Common ETP.
In fact, the Chief Minister further went on to say that the treated water at the common ETP will be recycled for use by the steel units at the Cuncolim Industrial estate. Sadly, there’s no sign of the proposed ETP falling in place at the IDC.
Where’s the Detailed
Project Report (DPR)
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation, sources said, had decided to set up a common ETP for the Cuncolim Industrial estate sometime back. If sources are to be believed, the government had even roped in the services of a Mumbai-based company to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR), with a brief to ascertain various aspects, including the water consumption pattern, the nature of effluents etc.
Nothing has been heard of the DPR compiled by the Mumbai-based company, which sources said had even estimated that it would cost around Rs 30 crore to fund the common ETP, to be partly funded by the Central government and contributions from the stakeholders and state government/.
GSIDC Chairman, MLA
Reginaldo Lourenco speaks
Chairman of Goa Industrial Corporation, MLA Reginaldo Lourenco said he has taken a new initiative now with the support of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to address the issue of pollution by the fish meal and fish processing industries.
He further said that a industrial plot has been reserved at the Cuncolim IDC to play host to the common ETP.
When The Goan contacted him on Sunday to shed light on the fate of the much-talked about common ETP at the Cuncolim IDC, Reginaldo said he's all for the ETP to take shape at Cuncolim. “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has backed the proposal to set up a common ETP at the IDC”, he said.
Not giving much details on the proposed plan and the plant, Reginaldo promised to unveil the ETP plan for Cuncolim at the forthcoming session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
