PANJIM: Coming down heavily on those violating pollution norms including no consent to operate, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) closed about 40 hotels in Morjim in Pernem taluka while action has been initiated against another 100 hotels across the State.
“We found a lot of hotels flouting norms. They did not have consent to operate. We closed about 30-40 hotels in Morjim. We have taken action against about 100 hotels in other areas as well,” GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil told O Heraldo.
Taking stern action against violation of pollution guidelines in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, the GSPCB has already shut a fish meal plant while it is in the process of issuing closure order to another fish meal plant situated in the industrial estate.
“The process is on. Order is to be issued,” Patil said.
According to Patil, the GSPCB is taking stern action against those establishments found violating the norms. Recently, the GSPCB had asked an expert agency to investigate the pollution levels in the industrial estate.
Also, four fish meal plants were fined to the tune of around Rs 1 crore each for dumping their waste illegally in bore wells constructed within their factory premises without any authorisation. However, the owners of the fish meal plants have challenged the imposition of the fine in the court.
