MARGAO
Decks have been cleared for the inspection of the United Marine Products factory at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate with the High Court making it clear that its order dated November 13 was not intended in any manner to restrain the Goa State Pollution Control Board from undertaking the inspection of the factory premises.
In fact, the High Court had on Tuesday clarified that the November 13 order was only in relation to the apprehension of the demolition of certain structures in the factory put up by the original petitioner. “Our order was never intended to prevent the GSPCB from undertaking a thorough inspection of the factory, which might also include certain digging activities or to examine whether the apprehensions expressed by the original petitioner are justified or not,” the High Court observed.
When the matter came up before the Court for hearing, the Advocate General pointed out that the GSPCB suspects that the original petitioner has laid an intricate network of pipeline, unauthorizedly for disposing of waste.
This was, however, disputed by Neelesh Takkekar, the Advocate for the original petitioner, with the court observing “at this stage, it is not for us to go into such dispute. However, one thing is clear that our order dated 13.11.2020 was not intended, in any manner, to restrain the GSPCB from undertaking the inspection of the factory premises. In fact, the original petitioner has also assured this court that they will co-operate with the GSPCB.”
When Adv Takkekar stated that there is an electrical line, which passes below the factory and any digging operation might prove to be hazardous, the court observed, “We are sure that the GSPCB officials or others will take necessary precautions.”
When The Goan contacted GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro to find out if the Board has conducted inspection of the United Marine factory, she said the officials were on the job.
“We will get the reports from the inspecting teams after which appropriate action, if any, will be initiated by the Board as per the law,” she added.
A couple of fish processing and fish meal plants had come under the scanner of the GSPCB after expert agencies roped in by the Board had alleged that the plants had allegedly dug bore wells to discharge effluents.
