Team Herald
MARGAO: Villagers of Paroda on Saturday appealed to Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral to implement the decision of the Goa State Pollution Control Board to revoke the consent given to M/s Jolly Metals and further said they will appeal against the paltry Rs 1 lakh fine levied on the company for operating without consent for so many years.
Briefing media persons former Paroda Sarpanch Gabriel Fernandes said that based on his complaint Ms Jolly Metals was issued a show cause notice by the GSPCB on 4th April 2019 as to why the consent to operate granted to it on 19th November 2015 not be revoked.
However, the company did not bother to reply to the show cause notice and hence the GSPCB at its meeting held on 8th May 2019 decided that the unit be directed to close operations and hence vide notice dated 31st May 2019 asked the company “to immediately suspend/close the operation of your stone crushing unit.”
Despite the fact that this notice was served on 31st May no action has been undertaken to close down the crusher and Gabriel said he appeals to the Environment Minister to honour and implement the decision of the GSPCB.
Gabriel also expressed surprise that the GSPCB levied a penalty of only Rs. 1 lakh upon the company for the damage caused to environment for so many years and said he would appeal against this paltry fine before the National Green Tribunal.
“As per the rules the fine should be Rs. 15,000 per days which works out to Rs. 4.93 crores and I shall demand that amount to be recovered from him as he has caused damage to the environment despite being a man in public life,” he said.
“Clafasio had claimed that he would resign if he was found guilty of operating the crusher illegally and now that it has been so established it is moral duty to resign as MLA,” said Gabriel wondering whether the stories about him joining the BJP was to save himself from this crusher closing case.
He appealed to the BJP to stay away from such people who have allegedly encroached upon government land.
