PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will inspect over 250 sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed by industrial units, hotels and residential complexes in the State to ensure their operations are as per the conditions laid down in the Consent to Operate.
At the Board meeting held on September 27, it was decided to verify the operation of the 252 sewage treatment plants within a period of two weeks.
The decision comes in the wake of a Supreme Court order dated February 22, 2017, given in a writ petition filed by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti against the Union of India and others.
Necessary directions including closure notices will be issued to the units if they fail to meet the environmental standards as laid down in the Consent to Operate under Water and Air (control and prevention of pollution) Act.
As per the records available with the Board, there are 583 sewage treatment plants installed in the State by industrial units, hotels and residential buildings for treatment of the sewage discharged by the units. Based on the monthly reports, the Board observed that only 331 sewage treatment plants are operating satisfactory, while there is no compliance from the other 252.
Further, the Board is likely to issue closure notices to three industrial units that generate trade effluents and have failed to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs).
The Board in August had issued directions for closure of operations to 18 industries on the same ground.
GSPCB said that of the 209 industrial units generating trade effluents in the State, 191 units have established their own effluent treatment plants. Of these, 188 units were found operating effluent treatment plants as per the Consent granted under Water and Air Act, while remaining three fail to meet the prescribed standards.
