TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Will the saga at Cuncolim industrial estate over industrial waste come to an end after the chemical analyis of the waste?
One will have to wait, but it remains to be seen if the authorities concerned crack a whip against the erring units discharging industrial smoke sans using the chimneys, polluting the air and causing nuisance to the residents putting in the neighbourbood.
While attention is centered on the 25,000 tons of hazardous waste in the industrial units, around a dozen-units are virtually having a field day with none of the authorities conducting a raid to ascertain the use of chimneys for discharge of smoke. In fact, any stranger to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate may mistakenly believe the smoke billowing via the ventilators and windows as smoke from a raging fire. But, local residents claim that smoke coming out from the factory roofs and ventilators is a routine phenomenon for want of any surprise raids by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) or other authorities.
When this rampant violation was brought to the notice of the GSPCB Member secretary Levinson Martins, he was quick to point out that the Board has taken a decision to install air ambient quality stations in and around the Cuncolim Industrial estate to monitor the levels of pollution. Questions, however, have been raised whether these air monitoring stations will zero in on a particular unit since most of the units have been found violating the smoke discharge norms with impunity, with the units hardly using the chimneys for release of smoke.
That’s not all. Residents of Akamol in Ambaulim village are up in arms over the acute pollution by the smoke and dust generated in the Cuncolim Industrial estate. Questions are again raised whether the chimneys installed by the units conform to the set standards taking into account human habitation all around the Industrial estate.
Neighbouring residents of Belatemb in Cuncolim Town had been complaining of thick black smoke and dust settling in their residential area in recent times, but there’s no action forthcoming from the authorities till date.
Petitioner Oscar Martins said those erring units not complying with the norms on discharge of smoke should be immediately raided and the establishments sealed.
“Most of the units do not use the chimneys to save power. This has to stop immediately. Mere installation of air quality monitoring stations will not suffice,” he added.
