27 Sep 2020  |   04:56am IST

Abatement of Pollution in Goa

Abatement of Pollution in Goa

A X Esmeraldo Gomes

On April 19, 1975, Goa Government closed a large chemical complex at Zuarinagar, Goa, due to massive fish mortality at Velsao beach and related air pollution issues. This incident perhaps tarnished the utopian image of this Sate known for its green and pristine surroundings. The vision of liberated Goa had an eye for the transformation from the past inherited feudalism to sustained growth through the industries, thanks to the initiative of its first Chief Minister. But the above mentioned industrial pollution raised a battle-cry in the eyes of the people mostly led by political clouds. Hence this vision remained dormant. 

The only existing organized sector, which flourished at that time was the mining industry, even though it could not accommodate too many job seekers. The mining lobby survived as the’ king maker’ in the policies of Goa. Thus the ideology of the government changed from large scale industries to small scale industries. However the job potential was insufficient and so tourism industry, much loved by all at that time, came into existence as it served the larger sector through entrepreneurships, no conventional pollution, and more important, greater acceptability of the people. Tourism infrastructure such as hotels and building complexes gave rise to some extent to builder’s lobby who tried their say in ruling corridors. Meanwhile the ratio of per – capita  income of an average Goan in comparison to the rise in costs (purchase power) remained the same as in the past during pre - liberation period, perhaps with the exception of NRI’s and  seafarers’ income. Hence the lookout for survival and greener pastures which was there in pre – liberation time continued and now reached to alarming proportions. How to make green Goa, greener in prosperity of an average Goan?

The reason for fish mortality at Velsao was due to a toxic solution drained by the chemical plant at Zuarinagar plateau. It was used to recycle a process, but due to lack of control, during initial stages, the Japanese operators drained it out, unaware of  its free flow from high level to sea level by gravity, thus contaminating sea water, causing pollution by accident. Stringent measures along with enhanced effluent control system, together with dust scrubbers to contain dust particulates through the chimneys, abated both water and air pollution. Thus this chemical complex was restarted and runs now for more than 35 years. 

The echo – friendly tourism industry, alas!, gave rise  to a new kind of pollution – the pollution of mind, which deteriorates human body. Narcotics such as cocaine, charas, ecstasy, etc., entered into the peaceful life of Goa, leaving trails to rave parties, beach- hallucinations, nudities, illegal sex parlors & consequential Aids, murders, suicides, etc. Jailing the culprits is not a solution.  Rigorous, high – tech checks on continuous monitoring basis at all entry points may reduce the drug menace, but I doubt it can be eradicated as its intake has infiltrated from tourists to students, from entertainment sites to dance parties.  

The mining pollution culminated to the closure of mines for the past two years and caused joblessness in Goa. If one reads ‘O Heraldo’ (30/08/20 editorial – “Making sense of the mining module” a comprehensive solution is available, provided the mining lobby at the helm of policies, come to senses. In open – cast mines, the air pollution can be controlled only at screening plants, ‘pelletization’ and steel plants. Its residual solid slag should not be allowed into the rivers, but buried elsewhere and ensure modern effluent treatment plants to control other contaminants.

Goa Governance  must realize that to contain the brain – drain of our State, we need to create progressive job opportunities, planning to employ every year incumbents passing out from our institutions, thus justifying the subsidies given to such institutions through tax – payer’s exchequer. To create greener ‘job – pastures’  in Goa itself and prevent exodus of our budding engineers, doctors, chemists, chefs, corporate financers & lawyers and other professionals, the solution is to envisage Industrial model in Goa. Mining industry has its ‘shelf – life'. Tourism industry, has shown harrowing side – effects with pollution which cannot be abated.

One must understand that in a heat - process transformation, exchange of energy that takes place is scientifically governed by the laws of thermodynamics. Its second law understands that no heat energy can be fully converted into useful work unless part of it is given to the exhaust. Hence one sees chimney in industry, silencers in cars as much as anus in human excreta system, venting / discharging the exhaust to environment, thus causing pollution. It is how we abate this pollution is the crux of the matter. Common pollutants such as greenhouse gases, NO2, SO2, etc., acidic and alkaline effluents, domestic pollutants, can be successfully stripped/treated and its residual heat energy recovered using modern techniques. Centralized pollution monitoring system with on – line data and chronological event sequence recording can act as a ‘black – box’ like that in an aircraft, for regulatory analysis of all pollutants of all the industries from one central location and check that the emissions are within permissible limits.  

Imbibed by the famed Gujarat industrial spirit, it is time to prepare industrial models in Goa with templates drawn to abate pollution and aim to progressively increase the per capita income of average Goan.     

 (The writer is a retired engineer)


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