PONDA: The Goa Pollution Control Board has issued a notice to Curti-Khandepar Panchayat for burning plastic waste in Material Recovery Shed (MRF) shed which is meant for segregation of dry and wet waste.
The Board after inspection of MRF shed has asked as to why action should not be taken. The complaint was filed by Khandepar local Sandeep Parkar alleging that waste was being burnt by the contractor in MRF shed.
In its inspection report, officials mentioned that at the time of inspection of shed, traces of burnt waste could be observed outside the MRF shed.
During the course of inspection, expired soft drinks bottles were found dumped at the MRF site. The workers present at the site were caught emptying the soft drink bottles in open, outside the MRF shed thus polluting the nearby residential area.
It was also observed that there is no permanent electrical connection for MRF shed. Instead, connection is taken from adjacent residence whenever required. There is no toilet facility for the workers working at MRF shed. The Workers reside inside the MRF shed, in segregation area thus stocking and segregation of waste is done outside the MRF shed in open.
No compound wall is built along the boundary of the site.
Further report of inspection indicates that the panchayat is operating the unit in violation of Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act and the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, causing environmental pollution in the vicinity.
It also reminded the Panchayat about provisions of fine Rs 5,000 in case of simple burning, while Rs 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning and that compensation for the damage caused shall be recovered as land revenue arrears by the competent authority in accordance with law.
“Therefore, under various provisions under laws the Sarpanch, Deputy Sarpanch and the Secretary of Village Panchayat Curti Khandepar, Ponda Goa, is hereby directed to reply within 15 days as to why action should not be initiated for plastic burning and for discharging expired juice in open outside MRF shade of Village Panchayat at Curti Khandepar,” the notice stated.
