MARGAO
With the fish units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate under the scanner of the Goa State Pollution Control Board and citizens seeking court intervention to curb pollution, fish processing units have extended an invitation to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, besides Pollution Control Board officials and the media to visit the fish processing units and see for themselves the pollution control measures in place in the units.
Addressing the media, proprietors of the fish processing units informed they have decided to invite the Chief Minister and others against the backdrop of what they called the recent misinformation being spread about the operations, which is causing unwarranted concerns regarding pollution and environmental damage.
“There seems to be a growing misconception that our fish processing units are contributing to pollution in the area, with some people wrongly associating us with fish meal plants. We want to categorically state that we are not fish meal units. Out of all the establishments here, only one is a fish meal unit, which has been identified as the source of pollution. Unfortunately, all fish processing units are being unfairly blamed, leading to defamation and serious financial repercussions for our businesses,” M Ibrahim told the media.
He added: “We are all export-oriented companies that adhere to stringent international standards for hygiene and safety, ensuring that our fish is processed, frozen, and packaged in compliance with global norms. Despite our dedication to maintaining high operational standards, the misinformation surrounding our industry has impacted our reputation. Our clients are now questioning us due to false reports that have appeared in some sections of the media.”
The fish processing unit owners clarified that their operations are clean, environmentally responsible, and entirely different from fish meal production. “We are committed to transparency, and by inviting the State’s leaders, we aim to demonstrate the reality of our practices and address any concerns they may have,” he added.
Saying that Opposition leader, Yuri Alemao, who represented Cuncolim constituency in the Goa Legislative Assembly, is right in taking up cudgels for the people affecting by pollution, Ibrahim, however, said that the fish processing units should not be unnecessarily clubbed with the fish meal plant. “We hope that the visit to the units by the Chief Minister and others will help clarify the facts and correct the misconceptions that have been damaging to our industry. We remain committed to the local community and the environment and will continue to operate in a manner that reflects these values,” he added.
On the effluent treatment plants, Ibrahim said the fish processing plants have ETPs in place, but hastened to add that they had requested GSPCB to rope in a Pune-based agency to check and test the plants and suggest improvements.
