MARGAO
With reports doing the rounds on Thursday that the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will de-seal the six units at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate after imposing fines, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has said he has told the Board to first inspect the units and see if they have complied with the directions before allowing the units to reopen.
The GSPCB had directed the six units, including a distillery, to appear before the GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro on Thursday and file their compliance with the directions.
While news spread on Thursday evening that the GSPCB has decided to let off the erring units with a fine of Rs 5,000 and a bank guarantee amounting to Rs two lakh, Environment Minister Sequeira told The Goan that an official order will be issued by the Pollution Control Board on Friday.
The Environment Minister, however, hastened to add that he has directed the GSPCB to ensure that the Board officials inspect the units to find out whether they have complied with the directives or not.
As far as the fine and bank guarantee are concerned, the Minister said the GSPCB is mandated to calculate the fine and the bank guarantee as per the guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board. “Whatever fine and the bank guarantee that is applicable under the Central Pollution Control Board will be imposed on the units,” he said.
Sequeira said that the de-sealing process will be carried out only after the GSPCB officials inspect the units and confirm the ground reality.
Officials at the District Collectorate, South informed that they are yet to receive an order from the GSPCB to de-seal the six units, though they admitted that there are reports that the GSPCB has decided to de-seal the units after imposing fines and securing a bank guarantee.
The six units, including a fish meal plant, fish processing units and a distillery, were sealed by the GSPCB during the weekend after inspections revealed that wastewater and effluents were discharged in the open drains at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
The issue had triggered uproar with Cuncolkars led by MLA Yuri Alemao threatening to paralyse traffic on the NH66 if the erring units were not shut down immediately.
