Establishments to face legal action if found operating without consent to operate
PANAJI
In a major crackdown against establishments operating without Consent to Operate along the coastal belts, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued closure notice to over 120 commercial units, found operating illegally along Arambol beach stretch.
Last month, the Board had issued similar notices to 27 units that included eleven in Anjuna, nine in Vagator, four in Assagao and one each at Chapora, Ozrant and Siolim. Before that, last year, 26 units along Anjuna-Caisua village were served with closure notices.
The closure directions have been issued under Section 31(A) of the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981, wherein the Board has warned to initiate stringent legal action, without further notice, if the units are not closed or shut until the Consent to Operate is granted.
The notices are issued to hotels, cafes, restaurants, cottages, stores, etc. The Board has been initiating action in compliance with the directions of the Bombay High Court at Goa, who had taken suo-moto cognizance of commercial structures operating in the no development zone (NDZ) along the coastal belt.
The Board in the notice pointed out “the unit is operating without the valid consent to operate of the Board as required under the Air Act” and that despite mandated as per law, the unit continues to operate without Board’s consent, amounting to a violation of the provisions of Air Act.
“Now therefore, in exercise of the powers vested with the Board and delegated to the Member Secretary, the management of your unit is hereby directed to close or suspend the operation of the unit till such time as the Board grants its consent to operate the same,” GSPCB member secretary Shamila Monteiro said.
“Your failure to comply with the aforesaid directions will compel the Board to initiate stringent legal action against you under the provisions of the Air Act, without any further notice,” she added.
In its directions, the High Court had said “if the pollution control board finds that the commercial activities are carried out without any consent to operate, it should take necessary steps to stop such activities”.
