Cuncolkars demand comprehensive audit of industries, permanent pollution measures

File photo of water discharged from the Cuncolim Industrial Estate into the adjoining water bodies.

MARGAO
The Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) recent decision to reject the application for consent to establish a second fish meal plant in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate may ring in good news for Cuncolkars, who have long been battling severe pollution in the area.

This move effectively halts, at least for now, plans to set up another fish meal plant in Cuncolim — a proposal that has faced stiff resistance from local residents and environmental activists.

Cuncolkars, who have been waging a persistent campaign against pollution caused by industrial units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, are now seeking answers from both the government and the GSPCB. Their primary concern: When will they receive permanent relief from the pollution caused by existing fish meal and fish processing units?

Residents and environmental groups have cited several reasons for opposing the new plant. Chief among them are allegations that the current fish meal plant and fish processing units are responsible for significant environmental degradation —particularly air pollution due to persistent foul odours and groundwater contamination through the improper disposal of industrial effluents.

These concerns raise pressing questions: When will Cuncolim be free from the burden of pollution and unbearable stench? Does the GSPCB have any plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of the existing fish processing units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate? If such an audit is already underway, when will it be completed, and what actions will follow?

Cuncolkars await concrete steps and lasting solutions — not just to stop future threats, but to address the ongoing environmental crisis they continue to endure.

This is not the first time the people of Cuncolim have successfully opposed the establishment of a second fish meal plant, both inside and outside the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) area. Their opposition stems from a decade-long struggle against the unbearable odour emitted by the existing facility, and the discharge of untreated effluents into nearby water bodies.

Despite the recent victory, residents say the fight is far from over. “It was indeed good to hear the news that the GSPCB has denied consent for the new fish meal plant proposed outside the Cuncolim IDC,” said one resident. “We hope the promoters see reason and respect the sentiments of Cuncolkars by withdrawing the project,” he said.

He added a note of caution: “The battle is far from over. Cuncolkars have been consistently fighting against the pollution caused by the fish meal and fish processing units, especially due to the rampant discharge of effluents. The GSPCB and other authorities must go to the root of the issue and resolve it once and for all. Units responsible for pollution must be shut down.”

Cuncolim council seeks GSPCB site inspection

MARGAO: The Cuncolim Municipal Council is looking forward for the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for a comprehensive site inspection of all existing pollution-causing industrial units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.

While rejecting the application for the second fish meal plant proposed outside the Cuncolim IDC, the Cuncolim civic body at its meeting held on September 9 last had resolved for a site inspection in order to ascertain compliance with environmental norms and to take appropriate action as deemed necessary.

Resolutions adopted by the Cuncolim civic body were communicated to the GSPCB immediately after the meeting held on September 9. In fact, Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas informed he will asked the Cuncolim Municipal Chief Officer to write to the GSPCB to find out whether the Pollution Control Board has initiated any action based on the Council resolution.

Resolution adopted by the CMC on September 9 last states as under: “It is further resolved that representation be sent to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) requesting them to conduct a comprehensive site inspection of all existing pollution-causing industrial units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate and to take necessary regulatory action against any units found violating environmental norms, including fish meal plants.” 

Resolutions adopted by CMC on Sept 9

Resolution no. 1:- “Be it resolved that based on the unanimous objections raised by all the councillors present and considering the public health and environmental safety concerns, the request of Goan Marine Impex Pvt Ltd seeking issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the proposed Factory Building, Security Office Building, Store Shed, and Compound Wall at Survey No. 339/0 (Part) and 340/1 (Part) of Village Cuncolim is hereby rejected

It is further resolved to send back the approved plan to Town and Country Planning Department for clarification regarding approach road to the proposed Fish Meal Plant

Also resolved to request the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (Goa-IPB) to revoke the in-principle approval granted to M/s Goan Marine Impex Private Limited

It is further resolved that representation be sent to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) requesting them to conduct a comprehensive site inspection of all existing pollution-causing industrial units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate and to take necessary regulatory action against any units found violating environmental norms, including fish meal plants

Fate of ‘Polluter Pays’ notices to fish processing units questioned

MARGAO: Will the new Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GPSCB) Levinson Martins shed light on the Board’s move way back in the year 2020 to invoke the “Polluter Pays” principle against the fish meal and fish processing units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.

Around five years ago in December 2020, the GSPCB had issued notices on these units to show cause why the ‘polluter pays’ penalty amounting to crores of rupees should not be imposed on them for allegedly discharging the effluents into the ground via the illegal bore wells.

The units were further asked to show cause why directions to close down the units should not be issued against them for operating the units in violation of the Water Act and Air Act.

While giving seven-day time to the unit owners to reply to the notice, the GSPCB had warned that failure to comply with the aforesaid notice will compel the Board to initiate closure directions without any further notice.

Five years down the line, questions are raised over the fate of the notices served on the fish meal and fish processing units – whether any of the units had paid the penalties or whether the notices were challenged before the Courts or whether the units have complied with the laid down norms to cap pollution since then.

In a notice issued to one of the units in 2020, the GSPCB had observed that the underground strata at Cuncolim is composed of laterite rock and therefore it may be possible to discharge treated effluent for gardening at less than 6L per m2 of available land for gardening and considering available 1613 m2 gardening area w.r.t. plant layout furnished by the site, maximum 10 m3 treated effluent conforming to treated effluent discharge limits can only be discharged for gardening. “Considering 18m’ per day treated effluent generation w.r.t. Electricity consumption that too without knowing the quality, it is not possible that soil will absorb this quantity of effluent and therefore it is highly possible that the treated or untreated effluent is discharged wrongfully,” the show cause notice had stated.