Municipal council seeks inspection to ensure fish meal and fish processing units follow pollution norms
MARGAO
As pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate takes centre stage with the Cuncolim Municipal Council seeking a comprehensive site inspection of all existing pollution-causing industrial units to ascertain compliance with environmental norms, concerns are raised whether the Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) of fish meal and fish processing units meet the environmental standards currently in force.
Indeed, contentious questions have emerged: Are all the units equipped with the ultra-filtration systems? Are electronic flow meters installed at both the inlets and outlets? Is there a mismatch between the capacity of the ETPs and the actual water usage of the plants, both for industrial and domestic purposes?
Past Environmental Assessment studies conducted by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in October 2024 had already highlighted several deficiencies in respect of a fish processing unit. These included the absence of ultra-filtration systems, digital water meters, electronic flow meters, and online effluent monitoring systems.
Following the recent public uproar over pollution at the industrial estate, an inspection by the GSPCB found that some corrective actions had begun—such as the installation of ultra-filtration systems, additional settling tanks for solid removal, and sand carbon filters. However, shortcomings still remain. The inspection team observed that the unit had yet to install electromagnetic flow meters at the ETP’s inlet and outlet. The unit has also failed to maintain an operational logbook for the ETP.
This situation raises serious concerns about regulatory enforcement. The GSPCB is now faced with a moot question: Why were the units not mandated to implement these crucial measures immediately after the October 2024 assessment? Despite acknowledging the shortcomings, the unit only responded in February 2025 with a commitment to install the necessary equipment, including ultra-filtration systems, digital water meters, electronic flow meters, and online effluent monitoring systems.
While the GSPCB did summon the unit’s owner for a personal hearing held on June 19, questions remain unanswered—most notably, why it took the Board several months to follow up with enforcement action after identifying the violations.
GSPCB inspection finds operational gaps at Ms Quality Exports
MARGAO: Inspection of fish processing unit Ms Quality Exports by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on September 11 had revealed that the sludge drying beds of the unit were completely filled with the sludge.
The GSPCB has directed the unit to dispose or store the sludge separately.
The GSPCB team inspected the area outside the boundary wall of the unit, wherein it was observed that the area was partially covered with soil fillings at some locations. “There was an opening at the boundary wall for flow of waste water after bathing and cleaning. The unit representative informed that the ICE plant operator usually were taking bath in that area and the wash water was flowing out mistakenly instead of flowing into the soak pit. It was informed that the opening has been closed by providing end cap after the complaints. The same was verified and was found plugged during the inspection,” the report said.
While the unit claimed that the treated water from the ETP is utilised for gardening purpose, the team observed that the flow meter for the treated water outlet is not provided by the unit.
“It was informed that the GIDC has allotted a plot admeasuring an area approx. 5,000 sq mtrs for the gardening purpose. The unit has carried out plantation on the allotted plot. It was observed that the unit was utilising only 700 sq mtrs area for the disposal of treated water. The water sprinklers covering the remaining 4,300 sq mtrs area were seen to be not in operation,” the report stated, adding that unit officials have been directed to ensure that the treated water meets the treated water standards and the same has to be uniformly utilised for gardening.
During inspection, the team has collected the treated water sample from the ETP after ultrafiltration to check the efficiency of the ETP is being analysed in Board’s laboratory.
The unit has provided a septic tank/ soak pit for the disposal of domestic waste water from the labour accommodation. The team observed that the food waste as well as plastic waste was dumped outside the boundary wall of the unit premises.
The report stated that the unit has installed an ETP with a capacity of 150 KLD, which was operational during the inspection. Following a personal hearing, the unit recently implemented additional measures in the ETP, including an ultrafiltration system for further polishing of water, three additional chambers for primary treatment to remove solids from incoming effluents, and additional sand and carbon filters with pumps.
