Team Herald
MARGAO: The Goa State Pollution Control Board’s directions to the Chinchinim Deussua Panchayat with regards to the garbage dumped on the banks of River Sal in the village appear to be “arbitrary”.
It may be recalled that vide direction dated March 27, 2019, the GSPCB had directed the panchayat to clear the garbage dumped around 40 metres away from the river bank within 10 days of receipt of the notice and further submit a compliance report within seven days of receipt of the notice.
Panchayat secretary Sunita Dessai saidthe directions were received only in the first few days of April and the panchayat had a meeting on April 5 to discuss the matter and issued notices to D’Costa brothers Benny and Bosco. “We have asked them to pay the fine of Rs 25,000 and to remove the dumped garbage within five days,” she said.
but admitted that the time would not be sufficient to clear the amount of garbage accumulated there.
She disclosed that the panchayat had issued a show cause notice on April 3 and in a reply submitted on April 4, Benny had sought 15 days time to clear the garbage. However, the panchayat is yet to decide upon this request as it has now issued another notice asking Benny to clear the garbage within five days and also pay the fine.
