TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Thursday suspended operation of seven stone crushing units in Salcete for operating without consent, with immediate effect. All units have been found to be operating in violation of the Air and Water Act causing pollution.
Closure notices have been issued under Water and Air Act to Jerry Enterprises, Tibna Metal Industries, S J Enterprises, Quality Granites, Gonsalves Enterprises, Sandhya Enterprises and Mallikarjun Crushing. The units are located in Issorgal, Sanzora, Oilemoll and Sauridando in Salcete.
The board had in March inspected all seven stone crushing units following which the show cause notices were issued on March 23 stating ‘why action under the Air or Water act should not initiated against your units to suspend operation of the unit for operating without valid consent of the board as required under the Air/ Water Act’. The units, however, failed to reply to the notices, which were answerable within seven days.
Accordingly, closure notices were issued by the board. “The board under the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981 and Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974 directed the closure of the units and suspension of operations of the units with immediate effect, till such time as the valid consent to operate is obtained from the board under the said act, the GSPCB notice issued by Member Secretary Levinson Martins reads.
The board has further stated that failure to comply with its directives will force it to take legal action against the units.
The issue of operation of illegal stone crushing units in Salcete was discussed at the last assembly session in March, wherein Environment Minister Alina Saldanha had assured to take stringent action against the illegalities. As per GSPCB record, there are 47 stone crushing units in Salcete.
