Three monitoring stations to keep tab on air pollution
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Environment Minister Alina Saldanha on Thursday told the State Legislative Assembly that the Goa State Pollution Control Board will install ambient air monitoring stations at three points at Cuncolim industrial estate to monitor the pollution level in the area and initiate necessary measures to control it.
The minister said that she was aware about the increasing pollution at Cuncolim Industrial Estate, where the major issue is of 25,000 tonne hazardous waste stacked in the plot belonging to erstwhile Sunrise Zinc Ltd and is now with Axis, without any measures to avoid environmental pollution.
Saldanha informed the House that GSPCB via an order dated April 22, has directed Axis, Sunrise Zinc Ltd, and the Goa Industrial Development Coorporation (GIDC), to begin the transfer of hazardous waste in closed sheds prior to the monsoon by April 25, failing which criminal proceedings would be initiated by the board.
“The failure will compel the chairman of the board to initiate stringent legal action against all the parties jointly and severally, in accordance with the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,” she said while replying during Zero Hour.
BJP MLA Rajan Naik brought to the notice of the House during Zero Hour, the rise in water and air pollution at Cuncolim Industrial Estate due to stacking of hazardous waste. He said that agriculture farms are being destroyed and people were suffering respiratory diseases.
The minister said that Nicomet industry, housed at the industrial estate, has a landfill site, where the hazardous waste is being dispersed.
She said that GSPCB has identified three sites for installing ambient air monitoring stations at the industrial estate. “Government will take necessary measures to control pollution,” she said adding ‘GSPCB has been directed to inspect the industrial estate on Friday’.
