Citizens of Cuncolim protesting against the proposed waste management facility for industrial cluster at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Goa Industrial Development Corporation’s ambitious plans to set up a waste management facility for industrial clusters at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate has come under strong criticism from Cuncolkars battling pollution from the industrial estate over the years.
In fact, local activists waging a sustained agitation against pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate has warned IDC Chairman MLA Reginaldo Lourenco to stay away from Cuncolim or else face an agitation right in his home village Curtorim.
Even as the Cuncolim Municipal Council held its meeting on Thursday chaired by civic chief Landry Mascarenhas, a group of citizens comprising of Aviraj Desai, former CMC-vice chairperson Shashank Desai, Shukla Keny and others protested outside the Municipal building over GIDC’s plans to notify the Cuncolim Industrial Estate a waste management facility for industrial clusters.
Former CMC vice-chairperson Shashank Desai warned IDC Chairman Reginaldo Lourenco that Cuncolkars will not take things lying down if the IDC goes ahead with the facility at the Cuncolim IDC to treat waste generated in the IDCs in South Goa. “We want to issue a warning to the IDC Chairman to stay away from the project in Cuncolim. People of Cuncolim have been battling acute pollution at the Cuncolim IDC over the years. Against this backdrop, we do not want the waste management facility at the Cuncolim IDC,” he said.
In fact, Shashank warned that people of Cuncolim will be left with no option than to stage a dharna at the residence of the IDC Chairman if the IDC bulldozes its way with the project.
Shukla Keni, who has been in the forefront of the agitation against pollution at the Cunolim IDC, said instead of capping air, water and dust pollution, the IDC has now proposed to set up waste management facility cluster at Cuncolim. “This is not just shocking, but highly objectionable, when the people of Cuncolim have been waging a battle against foul odour, besides water contamination in the vicinity of the industrial estate,” she said.
Aviraj Desai warned the government and the Cuncolim Municipal Council not to test the patience of the people of Cuncolim. “On one hand, the government has failed to clear the zinc hazardous waste mound left behind at the Cuncolim IDC since 2008. Now, the IDC wants to set up waste management cluster at Cuncolim IDC. We will oppose the project tooth and nail,” Aviraj warned.
Cuncolim Municipal Councillor Mariano Soares said councillors have strongly opposed the proposed waste management facility proposed at the Cuncolim IDC. He warned IDC Chairman Reginaldo Lourenco that people are not interested in the road built in the IDC when people of Cuncolim are dying because of pollution.
Cuncolim councillors to take pollution fight to Pollution Board doorstep
MARGAO: The meeting of the Cuncolim Municipal Council on Thursday has resolved to stage a dharna in front of the Goa State Pollution Control board office in protest against apathy and indifference of the Pollution Control Board to the acute pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
The issue figured at the Council meeting chaired by Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas when councillors sought to know from the civic chief on the status of the resolutions adopted by the Council in respect of pollution at the Cuncolim IDC.
After the Chairperson replied saying that there’s no reply received from the GSPCB on the correspondence from the civic body, agitated councillors called for a dharna at the Pollution Control Board’s office as a mark of protest against pollution.
