Board summons officials for hearing today
MAPUSA
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a strong indictment against the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) for its failure to respond to a notice regarding the indiscriminate dumping of waste on Assagao Comunidade land.
This reckless disposal has reportedly led to severe land and groundwater contamination in the region, raising significant environmental and public health concerns.
GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil, in a formal notice addressed to Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Priya Mishal and Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar, has directed the officials to appear before the Board for a personal hearing on Monday, March 17.
The hearing will take place at the GSPCB office hall and will focus on the civic body’s non-compliance with environmental regulations.
The pollution control authority had earlier issued directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, instructing the municipality to address the violations and submit a compliance report or action plan.
However, the Mapusa Municipal Council has failed to respond, prompting the Board to escalate the matter. “You have failed to submit any reply or action plan for compliance with the direction,” Patil stated in his notice.
“A personal hearing is scheduled on March 17 before the undersigned in the GSPCB office hall, where you must explain why action should not be initiated against you for failure to comply with the directives issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as well as the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016,” he added.
The issue was brought to the forefront following complaints from the Assagao Comunidade, led by its Attorney, Nelson Fernandes.
Fernandes had formally raised concerns with various government authorities, including the GSPCB, regarding the large-scale dumping of waste by the Mapusa municipality at the Assagao plateau – land that belongs to the Assagao Comunidade.
According to Fernandes, the unchecked disposal of garbage has resulted in severe pollution of the surrounding land, contaminating local wells and posing a serious environmental hazard to the village.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Fernandes expressed his frustration over the municipality’s blatant disregard for a High Court directive that had ordered a complete halt to waste dumping at the site.
Despite the court ruling, MMC has continued to dispose of waste in the area, exacerbating pollution levels and raising alarms among local residents and environmental activists.
