PANAJI
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has once again warned industries, commercial establishments and the public about individuals impersonating its officials and demanding bribes, more than two months after police complaints were lodged in the matter.
In an advisory issued through the Department of Information & Publicity on Saturday, the Board stated that some individuals claiming to be officials/staff/officers/employees of GSPCB are contacting industries and establishments in Goa fraudulently informing them that action for closure of their industry/ establishment is being proposed at the Board’s office.
“These individuals also falsely state that they can ensure action by the Board is avoided provided the industry pays them an amount as a bribe. Some of them also falsely represent that they can ensure that the Board grants its Consent to such industries and are cheating industries to deposit Consent fees into their bank accounts by falsely claiming these accounts to be GSPCB’s bank accounts,” it said.
The Board clarified that its staff do not do such activities for obtaining Consent and/or provision of official documents/Consent Orders and noted that police complaints have already been filed in the matter.
The Board has advised people to rely only on its official Help Desk for any queries related to applications for Consent. The Help Desk can be contacted on mobile number 9356709461. It has further requested industries, agencies and citizens not to entertain suspicious calls or instructions from unknown persons and to report any such incidents to the Vigilance Officer, the Senior Environmental Engineer or the Office of the Member Secretary.
In August, the Board had sought urgent police action after at least six commercial establishments reported being targeted.
