TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Japanese experts, who have been entrusted the job of decontamination of river Sal, have commenced work of remediation of pollution in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
A Japanese team along with Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board, Jose Manuel Noronha inspected the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, wherein the team collected soil samples in and around the two hazardous industries, Nicomet and Ms The Axis.
Noronha said the samples will be despatched to Chennai for soil testing, before the experts take up the job in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
Given complaints that the underground water might have been left contaminated by the hazardous waste dumped in the industrial estate, Japanese experts will bore wells in and around the two hazardous industries to check the underground water quality. The work is expected to be taken up once the experts return back in May.
Noronha said the GSPCB has decided to ask the Japanese agency to carry out underground water testing in the nearby Ambaulim village as well as in the neighbouring areas of Cuncolim hit by pollution.
The decision to carry out underground water testing assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of complaints lodged by local residents about water contamination by the hazardous waste dumped in the industrial estate.
In the meantime, the Goa State Pollution Control Board will receive Rs 30-lakh equipment from JICA, which will enable the Board to test metal content in the soil on the spot. “This is a free gift from the Japanese agency. It has already been shipped to India and is awaiting customs clearance”, Noronha said.
