Cuncolim faces a decisive moment on Sep tember 9, when the Munic ipal Council will take up a controversial construction file linked to shifting a fish meal and oil unit from Que pem to the town. The pro posal has already sparked strong public opposition. The meeting, scheduled for September 9, at 10.30 am in the chairperson’s chamber at Tollebhat, will bring councilors together to deliberate on granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the company.
The propos al covers construction of a factory building, a security office, a store shed, and a compound wall in survey numbers 339/0 (Part) and 340/1 (Part) of Cuncolim. The Goa Investment Pro motion and Facilitation Board (IPB) had earlier cleared the relocation of the project, permitting it on nearly 19,000 square metres of land outside the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. The promoter has since sought permission to build a large shed on the site, and that request will now be ta bled before the councillors.
With the meeting just days away, the local MLA has reiterated that the town will not accept another pol luting industry. He pointed out that Cun colim residents are still bat tling the impact of effluents and foul odour from existing fish-meal and processing units inside the industrial es tate and said it was unaccept able to add to that burden. CMC chairperson Landry Mascarenhas has also taken a firm stance, declaring that he stands alongside the residents in their long fight against pollution.
He con firmed that the construc tion file would be placed before the Council and has stressed that the elected members will have to de cide keeping in mind the people’s expectations. For locals, the upcoming meeting represents a crucial test of whether their dec ade-long protests will finally be acknowledged. Environ mental and social activists such as Dr Jorson Fernandes and Aviraj Desai have re peatedly highlighted how pollution from the industrial estate has hurt public health. In June, a demonstration was held at the memorial of Opinion Poll stalwart late Shabu Desai to demand ac countability and stronger action against violators. Political activist Elvis Gomes urged the govern ment to rethink the reloca tion. In a communication to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, he asked why Cun colim is being targeted for fish-meal plants when oth er locations could be con sidered. Meanwhile, residents have warned that if the project is cleared, they will intensify their agitation.
“Cuncolim has already sac rificed enough. We will not allow another fish-meal plant here,” said one local. As September 9 ap proaches, CMC’s decision is being closely watched — one that could either reinforce public confidence or trigger a fresh wave of unrest in a town that says it has endured enough.