TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Waste dumps dotting the Cuncolim Industrial Estate greeted Environment Minister Alina Saldanha on Friday, even as she called for a detailed chemical analysis of the dumps to ascertain the chemical content in the waste.
Promising to take all her assurances on tackling pollution in Cuncolim to its logical conclusion, Alina said, “We cannot say that people staying in the vicinity of the industrial estate are safe until a study is made on the impact of the chemicals on human body.”
“I was really taken aback to see the dumps of various types of chemical waste all over the place,” she told newsmen when asked for first-hand information of her visit to the Industrial estate along with the Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik. She, however, asserted that she had not come to find fault, but to find out the reality at the Cuncolim Industrial estate.
Replying to a question, Alina said she has asked for a chemical analysis of the waste in collaboration with the Goa State Pollution Control Board within a time frame.
The environment minister said she has requested Nicomet industry to have an investigative medical check up to ascertain the health of the people in the locality. “The vice president of the company has promised to hold it around May 15. I have asked him to give wide publicity (to the medical check up programme) for the benefit of the people,” she added.
On the disposal of 25,000 tons of hazardous waste lying in the Industrial Estate, Alina said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has already issued directions to cover the dump with tarpaulin and to transfer the waste to a landfill site.
“I have issued strict instructions to ensure that the dump is covered with the right kind of material. A day-to-day report has been called for from IDC officials till the dump is shifted,” she added.
When newsmen pointed out that similar visits by ministers and experts in the past did not have the desired effect on pollution, Alina said “I can give you one assurance that whatever has been decided will be followed till it happens,” while saying that though the State needs industries, the government is equally concerned about the health of the people.
Alina’s visit to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate comes a day after the government promised on the floor of the House to tackle pollution in Cuncolim.
Alina said she has asked for a chemical analysis of the waste in collaboration with the Goa State Pollution Control Board within a time frame
