GSPCB warns airport for flouting pollution norms TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The new Dabolim airport terminal which has been trumpeted to meet international standards will get grounded next week with a show cause notice, as it is operating without the mandatory consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, officials said.
The old integrated terminal building was operating without the consent since November 6, 2011 after the expiry of the previous consent.
“Yes we will issue them a show cause notice as well as directions on solid waste management,” GSPCB Chairman Jose Noronha told media, adding that an inspection conducted Tuesday by his officials had found waste water discharge from the airport building which is being tested to check whether it was sewage or treated water.
The BOD report from the lab is likely to be ready by Tuesday.
Now too though the new terminal has the consent for construction and though the terminal has begun operations, the consent to operate has not yet been applied for.
Airport authorities however, disagreed and said that they are not guilty as they have done everything needed.
Airport Director M Suresh said, “We had done everything and complied with all the provisions.” He also said that the airport had applied for all the consents and would be getting them soon.
But the facts do not support the director’s contention and this is not the first time violations have occurred, despite previous directions to the airport authorities.  
In June 2013 too, the board had pulled up the AAI for non-compliance of environmental norms on municipal solid waste at the Dabolim airport and threatened legal action. The Board had after an inspection done on the recommendation of a Parliamentary standing committee advised that municipal solid waste management at airports – especially major international and domestic terminals – be regularly monitored for strict compliance of environmental norms.
The inspection had found that that excess treated water from the sewerage treatment plant (STP) was being discharged into the drains and the unit did not have a flow metre to check the quantity of waste water treated. Also an overflow pipe from the sewage collection tank was directed to a storm water drain and there was a discharge from this pipe into the drain. A prima facie observation found that “environmental pollution is caused due to operation of the unit (airport).”
In July 2013 itself, the Board had asked the airport to renew permissions to operate its terminal under the Water (Act 1974 and Air Act 1981. The board has warned that it would impose a fine on AAI’s Goa airport, for operating the terminal without the necessary consents after it was found to be running without valid consent to operate under the Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981 since November 2011 and had been directed by the board to apply for renewal of the consent to operate the existing terminal.
Also the new integrated terminal building for the airport also does not have the consents under the Air and Water Acts.