MARGAO
Intensifying its campaign against pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, agitated residents on Wednesday complained about the discharge of wastewater from a fish processing unit into a plot outside the Industrial Estate.
Questioning the rationale behind discharging wastewater from the IDC into a private plot outside the IDC, the locals blamed the Cuncolim IDC, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) for the pollution. They said the two agencies, along with the police, have gone into a sleep mode, thus giving free rein for the units to indulge in pollution.
In fact, local residents led by social activist Aviraj Desai descended at the site and told the JCB operator to immediately stop the work of dumping mud on the plot in question.
The Cuncolim Police were also informed by the local residents about the presence of the JCB machine in the private plot and the mud dumped on the wastewater discharge in the plot. A police jeep made its presence felt at the site later in the evening.
Aviraj questioned the representatives of the fish processing unit over the dumping of waste and mud in the plot in question while the matter is sub judice. When the company representative assured him that the waste would be removed, Aviraj told him not to touch it until the police conduct a panchanama of the situation.
Speaking to the media, Aviraj blamed the GSPCB, the IDC, and the police for their apathy and indifference to the issue of pollution. “When wastewater is discharged from the IDC into the private plot, the GSPCB and IDC should have taken note of it and initiated action,” he said.
The residents have demanded immediate intervention by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, who represents the Cuncolim constituency, before the people take the law into their own hands. “The patience of the people of Cuncolim is running out. We request the CM and the LOP to intervene and give justice to Cuncolkars,” he said, warning that the people will be forced to act if concrete action is not forthcoming from the government agencies.
