TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The deadline set for the 13 Colva hotels to shut down by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has expired on Thursday, with no sign of the authorities moving in to seal the establishments.
Herald understands that the district Collectorate officials initially feigned ignorance about any directions received from GSPCB to close down the hotels by Thursday. It is learnt that when GSPCB officials inquired with the district Collectorate officials on Thursday evening whether the hotels have closed down as per the deadline, they are believed to have feigned ignorance about any directions received from the Pollution Control Board.
Given the situation, the GSPCB is believed to have immediately faced copies of the directions issued to the 13 hotels as well as the district Collector to act in the matter if the establishments continue to operate after the deadline.
When Herald contacted Additional Collector, South Venancio Furtado to throw light on the matter, he said the deadline set by the GSPCB on the hotels expires on Thursday, adding that the authorities will move into Colva to ascertain the status of the hotels.
Highly placed sources in the district Collectorate said the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Sangeeta Naik has been directed by the Collector to inspect the 13 hotels and initiate action on Friday.
The 13 hotels were directed by the GSPCB to shut down for violating the sewage disposal norms.
GSPCB officials said that out of the 13 hotels, around four hotels had no consent to operate from the Pollution Control Board, while a resort was operating despite withdrawal of the consent to operate by the Board last year.
