MARGAO
Hazard a guess whether Margao Municipal Council’s lone 5TPD bio-methanation plant, which has come under the lens of citizens, has the mandatory 'Consent to Operate' the plant at the SGPDA market complex?
Well, a latest notice issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer has clearly revealed that the Margao civic body has not obtained the valid consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 from the Board.
The notice issued by GSPCB Member Secretary, Dr Shamila Monteiro on September 28, 2023 stated that while records available with the Board indicate that though the 5TPD Bio Methanation Plant at SGPDA Market, Margao is being operated by Margao Municipal Council; the civic body has not obtained the valid Consent to Operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 from the Board.
In fact, the GSPCB Member Secretary was categorical in stating in the notice that the observations and conclusions in the inspection report indicates that “inefficient operation “of 5TPH Bio Methanation Plant at SGPDA Market, Margao is causing environmental pollution in the vicinity.
She further asserted that operation of the plant without the valid Consent to Operate of the Board as required under the Water Act and Air Act amounts to a gross violation of the provisions of the said Acts.
Inspection report and observations
The June 16, 2023 inspection of the bio-methanation plant carried out by the GSPCB has revealed that the Bio Methanation Plant was in operation at the time of Inspection, but the discharge of digested slurry was seen from the digested slurry bed through an opening at the rear side of the bed.
The slurry was seen to be flowing along with dry waste in the field area behind the Bio Methanation Plant.
As informed, the slurry has not been disposed since October 2022 through night soil tankers. Previously the slurry was being disposed through night soi ltankers to the PWD STP at Navelim.
The inspection revealed that the representative produced the latest gate passes for disposal of the slurry to STP at Shirvodem. Navelim dated 16/8/22, 12/8/22, 5/9/22,6/9/22 indicating the slurry has not been disposed through night soil tankers since October of 2022 leading to the discharge into the fields.
It was further revealed that that dry waste was also seen littered in the area to the rear side of the plant. The segregated non treatable waste like bones, dry waste etc. was seen stored in the shed. As informed, the segregated non treatable waste is stored in the bins provided and is collected by the Margao Municipal Council. The bins provided were seen to be in bad condition. The floor area in the shed was being washed at the time of Inspection. The wash water containing the leachate is being diverted to a chamber.
The wash water from the chamber is pumped back to the collection tank of the plant. Leachate was also seen to be flowing from the waste loading area into the storm water drain located outside the premises.
Conclusion
The report of inspection has concluded that the digested slurry was seen to be discharged from the digested slurry bed through an opening at the rear side of the bed flowing into the fields located on the rear side of the Bio Methanation Plant.
As per the gate passes produced at the time of Inspection, the slurry has not been disposed through night soil tankers since October of 2022 leading to the discharge into the fields.
Leachate was also seen to be flowing from the waste loading area into the storm water drain located outside the premises.
Directions
Invoking powers under Section (A) read with section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and under section 31(A) read with section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the GSPCB has directed the MMC Chief Officer to stop the discharge of the digested slurry behind the Bio Methanation Plant leading to the pollution of fields.
Secondly, the MMC has been further directed to seal the opening at the rear side of the sludge bed and to dispose the slurry through the night soil tankers and to stop the flow of leachate outside the premises.
The MMC has directed to submit compliance report to this GSPCB within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of this direction, failing which the Board has stated it will be compelled to initiate stringent legal action against you under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 without any further notice.
