For the past two and half decades Cuncolkars are fighting a battle against polluting units at Cuncolim Industrial Estate. Cuncolkars are now demanding aspirant candidates from Cuncolim Constituency to come open on CIE pollution. For several years now the people have been forced to inhale polluted air, forced to drink polluted water and forced to see fertile land getting polluted and turning into barren land.
In history Cuncolkars have raged a war against the mighty Portuguese rulers since 1583. Sadly they have lost their war of survival against their own government. Polluting units at CIE have ruined this historical town from the core and the town now is becoming into hell due to increasing Pollution. Locals are suffering from various respiratory and genetic deceases because of this pollution. Initially the surroundings were polluted by Cobalt and Nickel producing units like Sunrise Zinc and Nicomets.But soon after that the situation worsened due to polluting units and the power guzzling steel units of the CIE. These polluting units are a gift from the Congress government and what worsened the pains and wounds of the locals is a new menace. The ruling BJP Government has now given permission to Fish Meal industries and some distilleries too. Fish meal units and distillery units are releasing stinking waste during night time and early morning. This has become a major source of unbearable odour in Cuncolim and Ambaulim areas which has made life miserable for Cuncolkars.Cuncolkars fought long wars against polluting units in which they were made to go from pillar to post. They approached courts and also reached out to the Goa Pollution Control Board and Supreme Court too. Cuncolkars also went to Chief Minister and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar with their problems, only to come back empty handed. About 40,000 tonnes of hazardous waste has been dumped at CIE for the last 15 years. Now fish meals and alcohol producing factories are creating havoc in Cuncolim. The smell and unbearable stink coming out from fish meal plants and distilleries has made quality of life in the villages worse than ever. Goa Pollution Control Board had issued instructions and given recommendations to polluting units to take serious steps to control pollution. But the way things have unfolded it looks like has all these have gone in vain. The Goa Pollution Control Board had installed pollution measuring units but no one is aware of their outcome. Residents of Shompler, Veroda, Gulleacotto, Kegdicitto, Comba, Sanvorcoto, Akamol and Ambaulim have raised their voices against these problems asking to stop this stinking menace. However, no one has taken cognisance of the problems of the locals. Cuncolkars have now given a final ultimatum to government to take serious steps to curb pollution and stinking smell from the polluting industries. Residents have also appealed Assembly Elections aspirants to come out open on this issue. On Social media there have been heated discussions on pollution issue at Cuncolim. Cuncolkars are now openly blaming local body and Government for not taking cognisance of the serious issue. Members of social media groups are now demanding word of promise from aspirant candidates. Oscar Martins, who fought battles against the pollution issue, has taken the fight to even Supreme Court has blamed the industrialists for not implementing recommendations of Pollution Control Board. “Pollution control Board must take strict action against those who are not following norms and regulations laid down by them,” said Martins. A Social Media group has also been actively demanding to install Pollution measuring equipment at CIE.The biggest threat before Cuncolkars is the 25,000 tonnes of hazardous waste dumped at CIE. Government was planning to recycle this hazardous waste by using Japanese biotechnology.
