The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has pulled up the Tourism Department for causing environmental pollution along the entire beach stretch in Goa, for failing to effectively execute the beach cleaning drive.
Despite two contractors being hired for beach cleaning, the Board observed that the garbage remains uncleared from the beach belts, leading to environmental degradation. Following a series of complaints, the Board in the month of July and August conducted an extensive drive along all the beaches in Goa, right from the North to the South, to study the status of beach cleaning.
During the inspection, it was observed that non implementation of effective methods, has caused environmental pollution at almost all the beaches. “The observation and conclusion contained in the report of inspection, indicated that immediate measures are required to be initiated in order to ensure that pollution and degradation of the environment at the beach stretches is stopped,” GSPCB chairman Jose Manuel Noronha told Herald.
The GSPCB has issued a show cause notice to the Tourism department and the beach cleaning contractors- M/s Ram Cleaners and Developers Pvt Ltd and M/s Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt Ltd, under the Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.
The department has to submit a detailed compliance report to the GSPCB, failing which legal action would be initiated.
In a series of directions issued to the Department, the Board has ordered clearing of garbage piled along the beaches on an immediate basis, and has also said that no waste should be buried or burnt along the beaches.
Jose Manuel Noronha, Chairman of the GSPCB said that during the inspection it was noted that the Tourism Department failed to provide place for management of wet waste for the contractors on almost all beaches, despite clear directions from the Board and authorization under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
