MARGAO
In a significant development surrounding the controversial fish meal plant project in Cuncolim, Goa Marine Impex Pvt Ltd has approached the High Court challenging the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for refusing to grant consent to establish its proposed unit at Cuncolim, as well as the Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) for denying the requisite No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
The writ petition came up before the High Court earlier this week, following which the Court issued notices to the GSPCB.
In its plea, the company contended that the Cuncolim Municipal Council is not a technical or expert body capable of determining whether the proposed plant would cause pollution or pose any environmental or health risks. Goa Marine Impex has further argued that the CMC’s decision is arbitrary and discriminatory, pointing out that another fish meal plant operates within 300 metres of the proposed site.
The petition seeks directions from the Court to the GSPCB to grant consent to establish the unit in accordance with law, and to quash and set aside the CMC’s resolution rejecting the NOC. The company has also sought directions to the Municipal Council to issue the NOC as per legal requirements.
Pending the final disposal of the petition, Goa Marine Impex has requested interim relief, urging the Court to direct the GSPCB to issue a provisional consent to establish, and to direct the CMC to grant a provisional NOC for the project.
The petitioner has submitted that several fish meal plants are already operating within the Cuncolim Industrial Development Area with valid consents to operate. This, they argue, indicates that Goa Marine Impex is being unfairly singled out and discriminated against by the authorities.
Referring to the GSPCB inspection report dated August 22, 2023, the company noted that the inspection itself acknowledged the presence of another similar fish meal production unit in the same industrial estate. That unit, the report states, has implemented odour control measures and installed air pollution control devices. Goa Marine Impex maintains that its proposed facility is of a similar nature and that it is willing to adopt comparable pollution control measures as directed by the Board.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board had on October 3 had virtually rejected the application made by Goa Marine Impex Ltd for Consent to Establish, saying the application cannot be considered at this stage due to the absence of a No Objection Certificate or approval from the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
