Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has urged Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to permit operations at Sanjivani sugar factory for 2018-19, as it helps local farmers engaged in sugarcane farming.
CPCB had issued a closure order to Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd for failing to install online continuous monitoring station for effluent and stack emission. The order was issued on June 1, 2017 under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The factory had claimed that it is not in a financial position to afford the cost incurred in installing the system.
As such, CPCB via a letter dated October 12, 2018 has directed GSPCB to ensure compliance and closure directions.
Accordingly, GSPCB conducted a site inspection and observed that the unit has not commenced activities for 2018-19 and maintenance was in progress. The Board also received a letter from Sanjivani factory mentioning the difficulty in installing continuous monitoring system and sought six months to do so.
“It is to bring to your notice that the unit is a government-aided enterprise and operates only for a period of three to four months in a year. It helps many local farmers engaged in sugarcane cultivation,” GSPCB member secretary Dr Sharmila Monteiro said in the letter.
She said that the unit has made a representation to the government for financial assistance for the installation of online continuous monitoring station and also for upgrading the unit. The unit has also requested the Board to monitor it for Water and Air pollution.
“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to permit the operation of the unit for the season 2018-19 during which the board shall conduct stack emission and effluent monitoring of the unit on weekly basis until the season lasts and shall submit the report of the same,” Monteiro said. The board also sought that six months may be granted to the unit to install the system.
