MARGAO
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has warned that the people of Cuncolim will be left with no option but to take the law into their own hands if the government fails to curb pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial estate.
Yuri also warned of an agitation if the Union Ministry of Surface Transport does not honour its promise of building the national highway passing through Cuncolim on stilts.
The Opposition leader, who represents the Cuncolim constituency in the Goa Legislative Assembly, led a delegation of people to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to immediately stop pollution at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate or face the wrath of Cuncolkars. He told the media that the Chief Minister has sought 15 days to study the matter and take measures to stop the industrial pollution in Cuncolim.
“Enough is enough. We have been raising the issue of Industrial pollution both within the Assembly and outside, but there is no solution yet to the issue. We have now been left with no other option but to take the law into our hands and force the government to act against industrial pollution,” he warned.
Saying the Cuncolim IDC causes both air and water pollution, Yuri questioned why there are no air quality index monitors installed at the Cuncolim IDC to measure air pollution.
Similarly, he said the fish meal plants at the Cuncolim IDC have left the water resources contaminated in the absence of measures to stop the pollution. “People of Cuncolim are also facing the issue of fish water spillage on the roads as the fish is not transported in insulated vehicles from the jetties,” he said.
He also raised the issue of tax evasion by some of the units at the Cuncolim IDC, saying the government can be richer by several crores if steps are taken to plug the revenue leakage. “Our request to the industrial units is simple; don’t do the business at the cost of the health of the local people. We have no problem if they do their business legally,” he said.
On the NH-66 issue, Yuri said the Union Ministry of Surface Transport had agreed to implement a plan wherein the highway passing through Cuncolim is built on stilts. “Now there is a move to revoke the plan and build the highway sans stilts. People of Cuncolim are upset with the decision of the Centre. I have briefed the Chief Minister on this issue as well,” he added.
