MARGAO
December 16, 2023. People of Cuncolim from all walks of life, including citizens, politicians, social activists et al joined hands against the air and water pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial estate by taking out a candle light procession.
The procession wend its way through the town before culminating at the Chieftains memorial as they vowed to take the battle against pollution to the logical conclusion.
Exactly 10 months later on October 16, Cuncolkars hit the streets again, this time to maintain vigil on fish transporting vehicles carrying fish for the fish meal and processing plants. Men and women descended at the four road junction around midnight, just metres ahead of the Cuncolim Industrial estate, to maintain night vigil on the fish transporting trucks.
The Cuncolim police too deployed its personnel to help the citizens check vehicles carrying fish emanating foul odour. As the citizens maintained vigil at the four-road junction, an unbearable stink enveloped the entire area, suggesting that the foul odour from the Industrial estate has enveloped the areas inhabited by the local residents.
The midnight vigil by the residents comes just days after the local residents led by Khabir Moraes, Shulka Keni, Aviraj Desai had petitioned to the National Green Tribunal with a plea to put an end to the acute water and air pollution in the Cuncolim industrial estate.
The vigil also assumes significance and comes against the recent sealing and de-sealing of a couple of fish meal and fish processing units by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
Though the citizens could not find any vehicles carrying fish emanating foul odour, they have vowed to carry on the battle against the fish transporting vehicles transporting fish to the units.
Shukla Keni told the media that the plight of Cuncolkars can be seen from the fact that women are on the streets past midnight to maintain vigil against the vehicles. “We did a candle light march in December to demand a stop to the pollution. Recently, citizens had filed a petition in the NGT against pollution. We are forced to close our doors and windows so that the foul odour does not enter inside”, Keni said, as she warned that people will hit the roads to stop pollution in the next phase of agitation.
Social activist Khabir Moraes said citizens are fed up with the authorities over their failure to put an end to pollution. “Just imagine that citizens are forced to shut doors and windows to avoid pollution. At 10 pm, the stink in unbearable. We have to come on the roads because of the failure of the administration”, he said.
Aviraj Desai said the pollution units are out to destroy the people of Cuncolim through pollution. He said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is responsible for the present situation, reminding that the CM had inspected the IDC, but in vain. “Pramod Sawant’s ministers are visiting the Cuncolim IDC, but the pollution has not come to a stop. The units have invited the CM, Ministers and local MLA to inspect the units, but the CM should first inspect the encroachments carried out by the owners”, he said.
Saying that Environment Minister Alexio Sequiera has de-sealed the pollution units, Aviraj warned that the patience of Cuncolkars is running out, adding that the government will have to shoulder the responsibility for any law and order situation.
