PANJIM: Following directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Goa Government has prohibited use of petcoke and furnace oil in the State; while directing the industrial units to discontinue the usage on or before December 31, 2020.
The NGT on July 17 directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure that States and UTs ban the use of petcoke and furnace oil as fuels in industries and switch to cleaner alternatives. It directed the CPCB to file an action taken report within four months.
In a notification issued, Environment Director Johnson Fernandes said that the State Government in consultation with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has prohibited the use of petcoke; and furnace oil in Goa.
“All units utilising petcoke as fuel and furnace oil as fuel shall discontinue the use of the fuels on or before December 31, 2020,” Fernandes said.
The GSPCB has notified approved fuels for the State that includes coal, coke/lignite, petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, LPG, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)/LNG, Kerosene, Naphtha, Firewood/Dung cake, Bio-gas, Agro waste/bio fuel/briquettes, RDF, as per the provision of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Charcoal and Hydrogen/Methane.
“State Government, after consultation with Board is of the opinion that the use of any fuel, other than an approved fuel, in any air pollution control area or part thereof, may cause or is likely to cause air pollution, and hence it may be prohibited,” Fernandes said.
