PANAJI
Foul odour continued to be felt within the premises of United Spirits and United Breweries at Bethora-Nirankal during a joint inspection conducted on the directions of the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC), even as the units claimed to have initiated measures to curb the problem.
According to the joint site inspection report dated September 23, no discharge from the premises of either unit into the Bethora nullah was observed at the time of inspection. However, a reduction in foul odour was felt within the premises of both units.
The inspection was conducted in connection with a suo motu proceeding concerning complaints of foul odour pollution from industrial units.
Representatives of United Breweries informed the inspection team that various measures had been proposed to reduce the odour within a time-bound framework. United Spirits, meanwhile, reported that it had undertaken trials of bio-enzymes and biological odour-control agents at suitable locations within its treatment system.
The company also reported installing physical barricading and netting, along with containment arrangements, to reduce the dispersion of odour caused by wind.
As part of the inspection, the Goa State Pollution Control Board collected treated wastewater samples from the effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and sewage treatment plants (STPs) of the units.
The report records the measures claimed by the companies but does not establish their effectiveness or provide the results of the water-sample analysis.
The inspection team included a junior environmental engineer from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, a health department official and representatives of the Bethora-Nirankal village panchayat.
GHRC had in July took suo motu cognisance of complaints from Bethora residents over foul odour and alleged pollution caused by industrial units. The Commission issued notices to six government authorities and had also directed to conduct joint inspection.
The action followed a news report published in a local daily highlighting the problems faced by residents due to foul odour and pollution allegedly caused by nearby industrial units.
