Day 2 inspection reveals bad picture in Sao Jose de Areal-Sarzora, Dramapur belt
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: One of the recommendations Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) made in 2012 after inspection of the stone crushers around the Sao Jose de Areal-Sarzora, Dramapur belt was that the roads within the stone crushing area should be tarred and asphalted.
Moreover, the Board had recommended tree plantation within the periphery of the crushers as a precautionary measure.
Sadly, dilapidated roads and hardly any tree cover welcomed GSPCB officials on day two of the ongoing inspection of the 47 stone crushers around the Sao Jose de Areal-Sarzora, Dramapur belt on Thursday. In fact, mounds of morass was found stored around most of the stone crushing units and
the GSPCB officials had to walk through the dusty roads to inspect the crushers.
Even as the villagers are keeping their fingers crossed over the outcome of the inspections, with GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha promising stern action against the erring crushers, the affected people want nothing than the closure of the stone crushing units.
Their plight is understandable given that the residents had to literally eat, breath and sleep with dust over these years despite inspections carried out by the Pollution Control Board and other authorities and re-assurances to bring a turnaround in the situation.
Says Herculano Fernandes: “Things have not improved for the affected residents since GSPCB’s inspection in 2012. The stone dust has made our life miserable. It has destroyed our vegetation. People are suffering from illnesses such as sinus. It is high time authorities wake up and mete out justice to the suffering people”.
Questions are also being raised over the use of water sprinklers by the units and the source of water used by these. Chairman of Green Goa Foundation, Raison Almeida, said he had in the past complained to the authorities to ascertain whether the stone crushing units had dug bore wells to run the sprinklers.
“Let the GSPCB officials also check whether any bore wells were dug for the sprinklers. If yes, the Board should find out whether the bore wells had all the necessary permissions”, Almeida said.
When contacted, GSPCB Chairman Noronha told Herald that the inspection operation is likely to end on Friday, adding that action will follow against the erring units from Saturday or next week.
