MARGAO
Even as the Goa State Pollution Control Board is bracing up to seal as many as 10 illegal bore wells of some fish meal and processing units at the Cuncolim Industrial estate, Cuncolkars have once again posed a simple question to GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro “ when will the Board invoke the “polluter pays principle” against the unit owners for discharging effluents and polluting the underground water?
GSPCB officials along with the South Goa demolition squad will descend on the Cuncolim Industrial Estate on December 1 to carry out the sealing process of the illegal borewells, which were used over the years to discharge effluents from the fish meal and fish processing units.
While the GSPCB action, though belated, is welcomed by the residents of Cuncolim, questions are being raised when would the Board invoke the polluter pays principle against all the unit owners for their unpardonable action of discharging the effluents underground via the illegal borewells.
UGDP President Dr Jorson Fernandes said Cuncolkars will not rest till the GSPCB invokes the polluter pays principle not only against the fish meal and processing units responsible for discharging the effluents but all other units which have left their hazardous industrial waste in the estate.
“Sealing of the illegal borewells that were illegally dug to discharge the fish effluents is one thing. What the people of Cuncolim have been demanding is stern action against the polluting units. It is high time the GSPCB invokes the polluter pays principle to send a strong message to all the industrial units operating in the Cuncolim IDC that the authorities will not tolerate pollution,” he said.
The GSPCB had initiated action against the fish meals and fish processing units at the Cuncolim Industrial estate after an audit and investigation conducted by the expert agencies roped in by the Board revealed borewells were used to discharge fish effluents.
Convenor of Alpha Omega Foundation, Calvert Gonsalves, however, pointed out that the issue at hand is not small. He revealed the units have been discharging effluents through the borewells over the last two years.
In fact, Calvert recalled that he had lodged his complaint with the GSPCB exactly two years ago on December 17, 2018, with the plea to conduct an audit as his inquiries revealed that illegal borewells and soak pits were dug to illegally discharge fish effluents.
He had also demanded that the GSPCB officials also verify the production capacity of the fish meal plants, saying verifying the production capacity will help ascertain the extent of underground water pollution by these erring units.
“If the GSPCB had to initiate action immediately based on my complaint two years ago, the underground water could have been saved from pollution. I want the GSPCB to take the ongoing investigations to its logical conclusion,” Calvert said, warning that he would be constrained to move the Green Tribunal if the GSPCB fails to take action.
