the goan I network
MARGAO
Both the Margao Municipal Council and the GSIDC were issued notices by the Goa State Pollution Control Board to remain present at the low lying fields at Madel for the inspection, but in vain.
While GSPC officials led by Jr Environmental engineer, Digvijai Desai remained present along with the complainant, Ashish Kamat, President United Goans Foundation, the Margao Municipal Council and GSIDC officials were conspicuous by their absence.
The inspection could not take place not only for want of the MMC and GSIDC officials, but for want of heavy machinery to excavate the waste dumped at the site for land filling.
While the UGF president, Ashish Kamat claimed that the MMC and GSIDC has camouflaged the untreated waste by dumping red mud, the GSPCB officials pointed out that the nature of the waste can be gauged only after excavating the mud.
Digvijai Desai said the GSPCB had issued notices to both the MMC and GSIDC to remain present for the inspection, but they have failed to turn up.
“I will inform my superiors on the absence of the two agencies for the inspection”, he said. Incidentally, Digvijai also said he would check up with GSPCB higher officials whether the Board had at any time issued permission to the MMC to dump the untreated Sonsodo waste at Madel.
The complainant Ashish Kamat said the Pollution Control Board should initiate strict action against the Margao Municipal Council and GSIDC for dumping of the untreated Sonsodo waste at Madel.
“Studies in the past had revealed that the Sonsodo waste contains heavy metals. The dumping of the waste with heavy metals will contaminate the ground water and pose health hazard to the local resdients”, Ashish feared.
