MARGAO
Cuncolkars on Friday threatened to take the law in their own hands over the indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluents from the Cuncolim Industrial Estate into the water bodies, demanding an immediate shut down of all fish meal and fish processing units operating in the Industrial estate.
The residents threatened to block the National Highway-66 in the Cuncolim market if no immediate action is taken by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to close down the pollution units. Saying enough is enough, the residents wondered how come waste water from the IDC is flowing into the adjoining water bodies.
Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao, who represents Cuncolim constituency along with the Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas, Chief Officer John Fernandes rushed to the industrial estate after the residents threatened to take the law into their hands.
What further infuriated the Quepem MLA was that his vehicle was stopped from entering the industrial estate by security personnel of an industrial unit.
After inspecting the flow of black coloured effluents from the industrial estate into the adjoining water bodies, the Opposition leader questioned the IDC Field Manager over the source of the water. The agitated residents demanded immediate action against the pollution units after the IDC officer said he cannot identify the erring units, saying the units discharge the effluents during night time.
The residents cried foul, terming the discharge of effluents by the units as a criminal offence demanding action against the unit. They told the IDC Field Manager that he should ensure that the effluents are stored inside the industrial estate instead of allowing the units to discharge them to contaminate the water bodies.
Yuri demanded to know what’s the use of the IDC Field Manager when he cannot identify the erring units and the source of the effluents. While questioning the government why there’s no effluent treatment plant at the Cuncolim IDC, Yuri told the Cuncolim Municipal Council to immediately send a notice to the IDC over the pollution.
The Opposition Leader warned that people of Cuncolim will take law into their hands if the BJP government fails to take stern action against polluting fish meal and processing units. “The BJP government is turning Nelson’s Eye over the issue, despite it being raised in the assembly session.
If government fails to shut down polluting fish meal units, discharging untreated water into water bodies, then people will agitate. Government will be responsible if they take law into their hands,” Alemao warned.
He said that the government has even failed to monitor the air quality index of the industrial estate. “It is shocking to see contaminated water flowing everywhere here. The Goa State Pollution Control Board is not taking any action. All departments have failed to check the illegal practices here and handle hazardous waste,” he added, questioning why people should suffer for their lethargy.
He added: “If government fails to act swiftly, then thousands of people will hit the road and protest against the pollution practices by these units,” he warned.
Quepem Congress MLA Altone D’Costa, who was also present at the site asked officials to take action against these units, as it was affecting water bodies from his constituency too.
Cuncolim CO files complaints, seeks action against polluting industries
MARGAO: After the uproar over the effluent discharge from the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, Cuncolim Municipal Chief Officer has lodged a complaint with the IDC Field Manager with copies to the Cuncolim police and other authorities to initiate action against the 13 fish meal, fish processing and ice plants under the Environment Protection Act and the Public Health Act for discharging polluted water into the water bodies in Municipal jurisdiction.
In his complaint, CMC Chief Officer John Fernandes informed that an inspection of the site in the IDC on Friday had revealed that polluted water was flowing in the water bodies, in river, canal and also in the agricultural land.
He said the waste water is highly toxic, poisonous in nature emanating foul smell and can be hazardous to the human life as well as animals. “The fish meal industries have violated under Environment Protection Act 1986 and under Goa Public Health Act 1985 of discharging polluted waste water in the environment”, he stated in his complaint. A list containing the names of the 13 units was submitted to the Field Manager for action.
Copies of the complaint were forward to MLAs Yuri Alemao and Alton D’Costa, District Collector, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Cuncolim police, Balli PHC and office of the Disaster management South Goa.
