MAPUSA
Stating that power guzzling steel industries were involved in big scam and causing loss of revenue to the State, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Thursday urged the government to probe the matter and take action against such industries.
Alemao also pointed out that both the steel and fish meal industries operating from the Cuncolim Industrial Estate were causing huge pollution issues in the village.
“There are around 15 steel industries operating in the State. These industries bring steel metal scrap from other parts of the country and melt them in the floundaries at the industrial estates. The steel that is produced is then sold in black. These industries are not showing their real production as well as real power consumption causing a loss to the tune of Rs 2 to 3 crore per month to the exchequer. The government should take strict action against such industries,” Alemao said, while raising the issue during the Question Hour.
Industry Minister, Mauvin Godinho since the issue raised involved various other departments he will write to the Electricity Department and the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
“If the State is losing revenue then we will look into it. We are concerned. We will streamline processes for better coordination between different departments,” Godinho said.
He also said that Area Managers of the industrial estates will be made nodal officers and assigned the responsibility of ensuring that compliances are met with in all respects by all the industrial units.
“If need be we will amend the IDC Act,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition also stressed on the pollution caused by the various fish industries in the Cuncolim industrial estate and urged the CM and the Industry Minister to look into the pollution aspect.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that a team of GSPCB has been sent to inspect the fishmeal plants to check for air and water pollution caused by the units.
“During an earlier inspection some of the ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plant) of the industrial unit were found to be nonfunctional and waste was released into borewells without filtering and treating it,” Sawant said and assured the House that action will be taken against the units if their ETPs were nonfunctional.
