Team Herald
MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has been directed to swiftly secure the consent to operate from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and initiate the establishment of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) within the market complex. The directive came during a meeting at the Collectorate, where Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira expressed his disappointment with the SGPDA’s oversight.
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The situation came to light when it was revealed that the SGPDA has not installed an ETP in the market complex, a requirement that has been neglected for over two decades. Doubts were also raised regarding whether the SGPDA had ever obtained the mandatory consent from the GSPCB when the market was originally commissioned 20 years ago.
Sequeira emphasised the urgency, stating that the SGPDA must immediately apply to the GSPCB for the necessary permissions to operate the mega market. He instructed SGPDA Member Secretary Sheikh Ali to urgently submit an application for the consent to operate the sprawling retail market, which houses sections for fish, vegetables, fruits, and meat stalls.
Speaking to the media, Sequeira firmly stated that the SGPDA must secure the operating consent if it has failed to do so over the past two decades. When asked about the long delay in setting up the ETP, the SGPDA Member Secretary could not provide a satisfactory explanation. However, Sequeira assured that the Member Secretary has committed to initiating the process of establishing the ETP in the market complex without further delay.
