TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: All eyes are focused on the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) since its directions to Ms The Axis and Ms Sunrise Zinc to transfer and store the 25,000 tons of hazardous waste inside a shed at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate expires on Thursday.
Herald inquiries with IDC officials at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate revealed that the GSCPB directions have so far not been implemented till date. In fact, IDC Field Officer Mr Diniz said his office has not yet received the GSPCB directions till date. “My office has not come across any activity in respect of covering the hazardous waste as per the GSPCB order,” Diniz said.
Besides Ms The Axis and Ms Sunrise Zinc Ltd, the GSPCB had directed the IDC to ensure that the hazardous waste stored in Plot No L-2 is properly covered or in the alternative identify any closed shed within the Cuncolim Industrial Estate for temporary storage of the waste prior to the monsoon season.
The GSPCB had warned that failure to comply with the directions by April 25 would compel the Board Chairman to initiate stringent legal action under the Environment Protection Act and also initiate criminal proceedings against the parties for non-compliance of the Board’s decision.
Interestingly, the GSPCB has for the first time cautioned that failure on the part of the parties to cover the hazardous waste would compel the Board to carry out the compliance measures of storing the hazardous waste in the closed shed and recover the expenditure from the parties.
Oscar Martins, who has filed a petition in the High Court, said it was time for the Board to crack a whip against the companies.
“It’s a year now since we have been only hearing directions and orders from the GSPCB, but the hazardous waste is lying unattended at the industrial estate,” Martins said, while calling upon the Pollution Control Board to get the hazardous waste covered before the monsoons and save Cuncolim from a disaster.
