the goan I network
MARGAO
Even before her election to the Cuncolim Municipal Council as a councillor representing the ward adjoining the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, Succorina Coutinho had always raised her voice against the pollution in the estate.
She continued to raise her voice at the CMC forum since the last four years, drawing the attention of not just the civic body, but authorities such as the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
With Succorina now being elected unopposed as the new chairperson of the CMC on Friday, she has disclosed plans to fight the pollution surrounding the industrial estate with the same vigour and determination.
Aware that local civic bodies have no role to play as far as affairs of industrial estates are concerned, Succorina told The Goan that she would nonetheless take up pollution issue with the GSPCB, Goa Industrial Development Corporation and the government.
“The civic body may not have a say in the issuance of licenses for the units in the estate, but I will ensure that letters from the municipality go to these authorities to not only stop pollution, but refrain from granting permission to the pollution units,” Succorina said.
The Chairperson pointed out that the government should stop issuing any new permissions as well as transfer of the polluting iron and steel units in the industrial estate.
“I have seen how people staying outside the estate have been adversely affected by dust pollution. The authorities may say otherwise, but local people will explain how they have suffered over the years,” she added.
Besides pollution, Succorina also promised to take up development works in the municipal area with the support of the government and taking all councillors into confidence.
“The civic body will pursue with the government projects such as the ambitious administrative project, fire station for the town and other development works,” she said.
Succorina’s election was a foregone conclusion as the presiding officer received her lone nomination paper. With Succorina’s election, the civic body has now created history with all its six women councillors occupying the Chairperson’s post on rotation basis.
