all belonging to the ST community, where the IPB has notified an area of 1,24,439 sq mts for investment to set up a green field grain based beer factory called Vani Agro Farms Limited, even as the land is marked as a ‘orchard land’ with mainly coconut, cashew and mango trees.
Terming the notification as insensitive towards the common good of the people, AAP convenor Rajashree Nagarsekar sought replies from the government on many questions.
Considering that the unit would produce 70,000 litres of beer per day and therefore would require a much larger quantity of water to be used, has the government assessed the quantity of water by the unit would consume? Considering that Uguem River, the only source of water for any use in the village, goes almost dry in summer, can it meet the needs of the unit?
Claiming that the adjoining Valkini village is also reeling under acute water shortage, she asked, “Has the impact on lives and irrigation due to water shortage been taken into consideration?”
On the job front, AAP sought to know what kind of jobs the unit would provide, as distillery units are fully automated.
The party also sought to know how the unit would dispose off and control the strong odour and the justification for destruction of a large numbers of coconut and cashew trees to make way for a beer factory.
“The government also needs to explain how the IPB can clear the project while it does not have the mandate to clear an alcohol plant which comes under the ‘Red’ category, and can clear only an Orange category project? It is pertinent to note that the IPB notification clearing the Vani Agro Farms project in Sanguem classifies the project as ‘Green Field Grain based alcohol and brewery plant’. This clearly falls under B (24) of the MoEF guidelines which is followed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board for a ‘Red industry’. A ‘Red industry’ can be permitted under the IPB Act only if it is an “expansion” and not a green field project. Thus the IPB does not have the mandate to clear a red industry,” AAP contented.
