BY KARAN SEHGAL
PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board on Tuesday slapped shut down notices on 18 industries, in conformation with the Supreme Court order which stated that all industries across India which do not have operational effluent treatment plants (ETP) should be closed down.
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) member secretary Levinson Martins confirmed that 18 industries had been ordered to shut shop in the state acting on a Supreme Court order passed in February this year.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court had taken serious cognizance of effluents (liquid waste) from industries flowing into water bodies in the absence of an ETP, thereby polluting it.
Sources revealed that these 18 industries, which have been asked to shut down, either failed to establish a functioning ETP or do not have an ETP at all.
At 7 industries, Bethora Industrial Estate has the highest number of industries, which have been told to shut down. Closely following is Verna Industrial Estate, wherein GSPCB has ordered 5 industries to shut down.
This shows that bulk of the industries, which weren't following ETP related regulations, were in these two industrial estates. Two industries each in Kundaim Industrial Estate and Pissurlem Industrial Estate have been told to suspend operations.
One industry each in Honda Industrial Estate and Mapusa Industrial Estate has also been told to shut down.
The GSPCB has directed these 18 industries to stop/suspend operations under section 33 A of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. These industries have also been told to submit a compliance report within 3 days of receipt of GSPCB's directions.
Sources also revealed that these 18 industries have been told to suspend operations till such time that they install an ETP, which is in working condition, and they inform GSPCB about the same.
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HALL OF SHAME
* 7 industries have been told to shut down at Bethora Industrial Estate
* Closely behind is Verna Industrial Estate with 5 polluting industries
* Bulk of industries not following ETP norms were in above two industrial estates
* Two each in Kundaim and Pissurlem have also been told to suspend operations
* One industry each in Honda and Mapusa Industrial Estate has also been told to shut down
* These industries told to submit compliance report within 3 days of receipt of order
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SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
* The Apex Court had passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by a non-profit organisation
* Several industries across the country either don't have effluent treatment plant or they aren't working properly
* State pollution bodies had been told to act accordingly in disconnecting power to companies not having ETP
* Post the SC order, GSPCB has gone on to check the ETPs of industries and its directions are based on that
