Team Herald
VASCO: The residents of Umiya Habitat Apartment, Sancoale, have unanimously decided to approach National Green Tribunal, Pune bench, over the excessive release of ammonia by a fertilizer factory located at Biral in Zuarinagar.
The residents have also decided to appeal to the Forest and Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar seeking his intervention to resolve their issue as the residents and especially the children have been falling victims after inhaling ammonia on daily basis.
The resolution was taken at the annual general body meeting of Umiya Habitat Cooperative Housing Society held on Wednesday and was attended by over 100 members.
Though the meeting was called to discuss other issues pertaining to the housing society, a resident Sunil Naik raised the issue of release of ammonia by a factory from Zuarinagar and its effect to human life.
He said that on many occasions the parents have been complaining of children suffering from cough and cold after inhaling ammonia which is released by the factory at night and especially during rains.
Another member Bharat Sail claimed that in past he along with the residents had brought the issue of release of ammonia to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), whose officials inspected the site and installed air ambient monitoring device and for some time the problem was solved only to start again after GSPCB removed their machines from the site.
“We have decided to take this issue very aggressively as ammonia has been affecting our health and we cannot keep quite even after in taking slow poison,” Sail said.
After lengthy discussion, the residents unanimously decided to first approach Arlekar and if the issue is still not resolved in 15 days time and if GSPCB does not reinstall air ambient monitoring device in their area, then the residents have also threatened to come out on streets besides approaching NGT to seek justice, said Manoj Naik, the administrator of the apartment.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Arlekar assured that he would surely look into the complaints of the people with regards to air pollution. “Though I have not received any formal complaint from the residents, I would certainly look into the case and get the same resolved permanently,” Arlekar said.
