TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Rejecting the application for renewal of the consent to operate under Water and Air Acts, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Friday ordered the closure of Ms P G Holiday Inn Pvt Ltd (Silver Sands Beach Resort) at Colva within seven days for causing water pollution and environmental degradation in the vicinity.
The hotel will remain closed till such time the management obtains consent to operate from the Board and take adequate measures to control water pollution. The hotel has been told to submit a compliance report within seven days after receiving the directions.
The GSPCB has also asked the South Goa District Collector to ensure that the hotel is closed in accordance with the directions and submit compliance report to the Board.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha has further warned the hotel management that failure to comply with the directions will compel the Board to initiate further stringent legal action under the Water and Air Acts, besides criminal prosecution.
In his order, GSPCB Chairman said the resort had failed to comply with the Board’s directions regarding maintenance and operation of the Sewage Treatment Plant efficiently and also failed to stop the discharge of waste water outside the premises.
The action comes following a complaint lodged by Colva Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves and Colva Civic and Consumer Forum secretary Judith Almeida alleging discharge of waste water in the storm water drain.
An inspection of the hotel premises on November 28 had revealed that the waste water from the hotel was flowing into the storm water drain, while the secondary treatment water tank was found overflowing due to absence of an STP.
Further, the analytical report of the waste water sample collected from the hotel revealed that the BOC, COD and suspended solid values exceeded the limits prescribed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
