PANJIM: Taking stern action against violation of pollution guidelines in the Cuncolim industrial estate, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) shut one fish meal plant and will close down another meal on Monday.
GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil on Friday said that one fish meal plant was closed two days back and will close another unit on Monday, November 13.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Patil said, “We called a meeting of fish meal plant owners. We had done an audit of these units recently. The audit was also done four-five years back and some directions were issued. We did another audit recently and we found that most of the people are complying. However, it was found that some people are not managing properly. So we closed one unit two days back and will close another unit on Monday.”
Patil said he had warned the industrial units of serious action if those violating laws do not take corrective measures.
“We have told them (the industrial units) that as an industry they have to take corrective action. We have explained to them why we closed the units and warned to take serious action against others also if they do not comply with the guidelines. We told them that if they have to continue then it should be under the framework of the law. We also told them that some industrial units are complying very well,” Patil said.
According to the GSPCB chairman, altogether eight representatives of the industrial units, including Cuncolim Industries Association president Abhay Keni, were present in the meeting.
The GSPCB had recently said that it had asked an expert agency to investigate the pollution levels in the industrial estate. Also, four fish meal plants were fined around Rs 1 crore each for dumping their waste illegally in bore wells constructed within their factory premises without any authorisation. However, it was challenged by the plant owners and the matter is pending in the court.
