MARGAO
Cuncolkars were on a warpath on Sunday over the pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, marching in unison to the industrial estate demand a stop to the acute pollution, both air and water pollution caused by the industries operating at the estate.
As the people went round the industrial estate, they came across water discharge points, claiming the untreated water finds its way into the adjoining rivulets and is the cause of contamination of the water bodies. They also pointed out that fish meal and fish processing units were in the past responsible for discharging untreated water into bore wells, contaminating the ground water.
The people have vowed to find out the source of pollution and to take the issue to its logical conclusion. Saying that pollution is not new to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, they wondered why the government is dragging its feet to cap pollution at the industrial estate despite agitations by the local residents and the issue highlighted in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
It was pointed out that the government had in the recent past assured that the industrial units will be mandated to install Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), but lamented that these plants are yet to install the same.
Kabir Moraes, Shantanu Desai, Avi Desai, Shukla Keni, Gino Pereira, Assis Noronha, Santosh Naik and others called for a sustained battle to ensure in mounting pressure on the government and the Goa State Pollution Control Board to rid the Cuncolim Industrial Estate from pollution.
Addressing the people, Shukla Keni said people inhabiting close to the industrial estate are forced to shut their doors and windows to stop four odour. “We the people want to breathe fresh air. This is the right guaranteed under the Constitution. We are not blaming anyone for the mess, but someone has to put an end to the nuisance and health hazard,” she said, as she made a fervent plea to people to join hands in stopping the nuisance once and for all.
Shantanu Desai claimed that samples tested from the bore wells dug inside the estate had showed traces of ammonia and nitrate beyond permissible limits. “The fish meal plants were fined and had to pay an amount of Rs 7.22 crore for causing the pollution, but the units escaped by paying a small fine after they pleaded for a waiver,” he said.
He urged the people to take photographs of the water discharged from the industrial estate to spread awareness amongst the people of Cuncolim and join the battle.
Cuncolim Municipal councillor Udesh Desai said that water discharged from the estate has found its way into the rivulets at Takaband and Veroda, demanding a stop to the nuisance. “Our MLA and Opposition leader Yuri Alemao had taken up the issue in the Assembly and outside, but the GSPCB is not taking action. People will stop cultivating the fields if the pollution does not stop immediately,” he said.
Gino Pereira wondered why the government agencies are not firm in capping pollution at Cuncolim. “We come across the same old stories. Nothing seems to have changed on the ground. This is painful for Cuncolkars,” he said, while saying the only option now left for the people is to knock the doors of the Judiciary. “Have the industrial units installed the ETPs as mandated by the pollution norms,” he further demanded to know.
Assis Noronha echoed similar sentiments. “So many inspections have taken place at the industrial estate, but the issue is not taken to its logical conclusion. We face the same old question why is pollution not capped at Cuncolim. Has the government got the industrial units to install the ETPs to treat the effluents before discharging them outside,” he questioned.
