Team Herald
PANJIM: Shocked at the massive potential impact and damage to ecology and environment due to the devastating fire in the Berger factory, concerned citizens including foot soldiers of the environment have raised alarm bells of similar happenings across the State.
Concerned citizens of Goa have warned the government of Goa to immediately take corrective measures to curb pollution from Industrial Estates in the State. They have warned that if the State government does not take corrective measures innocent people will have to face the wrath of the pollution and loss of fragile ecosystems.
Dr Jorson Fernandes, who resides in Cuncolim, while speaking on the issue said that it is disastrous to have placed industries on plateaus.
“Industrial Development Corporation and the State government have failed to plan. Revisit the Industrial Estate Planning, interdepartmental coordination, keeping politicians out from planning and involving locals in the planning," he said.
“Polluter pays principle and Precautionary Principle needs to be stringently applied to all industries,” he added.
Soter D’Souza said, “The government has been irresponsible while locating the industrial estates in water catchment and grazing lands of the people. Goa’s drinking water has been threatened by placing these industrial estates on plateaus which are vital for Goa’s water table.”
“Of course there has been a lot of pollution in various ways, some known and some unknown. There have been several instances of garbage being dumped by the contractors in open areas polluting our pristine villages,” he added.
“Today law enforcement happens on the basis of who has money and political clout. Like Pilerne, Kundaim, Marcaim, Sao Jose de Areal industrial estates are polluting and people are complaining regarding that,” D’Souza complained.
Roland Martins, Coordinator of GOACAN said, “The Pilerne Industrial Estate incident is a wakeup call. The challenge today is to have a robust monitoring system to keep a check on any air and water pollution that may be happening due to the estates. Village panchayats now face the challenge of the industrial estates that are located near the Municipal Council jurisdiction. The villagers in 2023 will have to understand what the air and water pollution act has in terms of its rules, what obligations of the various authorities are, and what village panchayats can do at the village and gram sabha levels,” he said.
Olencio Simoes said, “The Pilerne incident is an eye-opener. None of the industrial estates follow the norms prescribed by the authorities. Most of the industrial estates are pushing their pollutants into groundwater through bore wells. This is the lapse of the Government.”
While suggesting solutions to the problems Simoes said, “Regular inspection needs to be held to keep a check on the pollution from industrial estates. We can save Goa from the pollution and a mega-disaster if there is no pulling up of the industrial estates and authorities.”
Kalanand Mani, Secretary of the Peaceful Society said, “Goa is not suitable for any kind of industry. The State has a very fragile ecosystem hence the industries have to be brought in tune with the ecosystem. Why should the Goan population be forced to live under the threat of pollution?” he questioned.
“For the last 30 years due to the industries in higher locations the villagers living in the lower areas have stopped using wells and groundwater sources because of groundwater pollution,” he said.