PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has pulled up Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) for dumping construction waste in low-lying agricultural land, thereby causing environmental degradation and pollution in the vicinity.
Following a complaint from a local person, GSPCB conducted a site inspection in the area opposite Ponda Municipal garden, wherein it was observed that agricultural land is being back-filled with debris from construction sites.
“It was observed that material being dumped on site for back-filling purpose consisted of plastic bags, paper, thermocol, etc,” the inspection findings state.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said this indicted that PMC had failed to comply with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules and was thereby causing environmental degradation.
As such, the Board, under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1956, has directed the council to clear the plastic, paper waste from the site and stop further dumping and comply with Municipal Solid Waste Rules.
The board has warned of legal action if the council fails to submit a compliance report within 15 days.
