TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Forced to take action against erring hoteliers and eateries for functioning without Consent to operate, especially on the coastal Calangute-Candolim belt, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will hold a second special drive.
The Board has organized two different camps at Porbavaddo Calangute on August 6 and 7 and at Candolim panchayat on August 8, between 10.30 am to 5 pm, to assist and guide the applicants to submit their application online and send a hard copy.
Once the applications are filed and completed in all respects, the officials will inspect units before granting consent.
GSPCB has constituted a six-member team to conduct the drive. GSPCB Chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that according to the latest National Green Tribunal order, Consent is a must for all establishments and hence they were issued notices to apply for the same.
“The response has been very poor, mainly because small units like shacks or temporary restaurants are unaware about such consent and hence we decided to reach out to the units and make all possible efforts to ensure that they apply for Consent,” he said adding ‘there was a representation from hoteliers calling on the Board to carry out an awareness drive.’ The notices were issued following MoEF directives.
Over 2632 industrial and hotel units were issued show-cause notices under Section 33 (a) read with Section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and under Section 31(A) read with Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 after it was found that the units are operational without obtaining Consent from Board.
