Stop dumping waste at Assagao, Mapusa civic body told
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JAN 16
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a show-cause notice to Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) in connection with environmental pollution on the Assagao Plateau and its vicinity.
The Assagao Communidade and residents in the locality had objected to the dumping and burning of garbage by MMC on Assagao hill.
Acting on this, the GSPCB had directed MMC to immediately stop dumping of unsegregated waste at Assagao Plateau, to construct a fence around the site and to provide 24-hour security at the site to prevent such dumping.
However, the MMC allegedly continued to dump and burn unsegregated garbage at the Assagao Plateau.
Unhappy about this, Philip D’Souza, member of Ad-hoc Committee of Shiv Sena, complained to the GSPCB on November 3, 2010.
D’Souza claimed that unsegregated waste, including plastic and rubber waste, was being dumped and burnt on the Assagao hill by MMC, causing environmental pollution.
He stated that the activity is a health hazard to residents of adjoining Ganeshpuri Housing Board and Ektanagar.
Acting on the complaint, GSPCB officials inspected the Assagao plateau on November 18, 2010 and confirmed that MMC was dumping unsegregated and mixed waste at the site.
A municipal vehicle was also observed dumping mixed waste during the inspection.
The GSPCB later issued a show-cause notice to the MMC chief officer, demanding to know why action under Section 15 read with Section 17 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 should not be initiated against her for violating directions issued to them on March 20, 2009, for causing environmental pollution in the Assagao Plateau and its vicinity.
“The observations recorded during the inspection of the Assagao Plateau as conducted by the Board officials on November 18, 2010, indicates that Mapusa Municipal Council by dumping unsegregated waste at the site is violating the directions dated March 20, 2009, and is causing environmental pollution in the vicinity, thereby violating section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986,” states the show-cause notice.
“Failure to satisfactorily show-cause within the stipulated time period will compel the GSPCB to initiate stringent legal action against you in accordance with provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 without any further notice,” warned the GSPCB.
