CUNCOLIM: Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik stated that he was against the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC) plan to allow more fish-meal plants to operate in Cuncolim Industrial Estate (CIE)
“I told the government and IDC not to make the situation worse in CIE by giving permission to more fish-meal plants. I came to know that some industrialists are planning to set up these plants in Cuncolim. I told the government enough is enough. Till I am the Cuncolim MLA, I will not allow any more fish-meal plants,” said Naik.
He continued, “We have suffered a lot due to the polluting units at CIE. Three fish-meal plants and some chemical and alloys industries are creating the nuisance. Land, water and air of this locality is already polluted. How can one think to add more pollution to this industrial estate?”
There are around twelve steel units, two cobalt and nickel-producing units and three fish-meal plants at the CIE. About 25,000 tons of hazardous waste is lying in this estate for the last 20 years, but the government is not bothered about disposing it.
The government has given a green light to the fish-meal plants despite objections from Cuncolkars. The IDC also wants to set up a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) to deal with these plants.
Locals warned the government that if it gave permission for more fish-meal plants, they would take to the streets. They also demanded that the government clear the hazardous waste from CIE and keep a strict vigil on polluting units, including the fish plants.
Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised the Cuncolkars that he would make Cuncolim Industrial Estate pollution-free. He accepted that the cobalt and nickel-producing industries were responsible for spreading diseases like cancer. Locals now question whether the Parsekar government will take responsibility for providing a pollution-free environment to the people of Cuncolim.
