Directs owner to obtain consent from Board, warns of legal action
The mound of glass bottles stacked at the scrapyard at Benaulim on the banks of River Sal.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
In an interesting development, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has directed the management of Ms Nikhil Traders, Pulwaddo-Benaulim to close/ suspend the operations of the unit until further orders.
The GSPCB directions have come just a day after officials had inspected the scrapyard located on the banks of River Sal, Benaulim.
Saying the GSPCB grants Consent to Establish, Consent to Operate to various units/ establishments in terms of Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the order pointed out that operation of a unit/ establishment without the valid Consent to Establish/ Consent to Operate of the Board amounts to violation of the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
During the inspection, the GSPCB team has observed the management of Ms Nikhil Traders have been carrying out the activity of collection of cardboard, paper, pet-bottles from commercial establishments and door-to-door collection. It was further observed that two numbers of bailing machines having capacity of 800kg and 1200kg were set up to bail both pet-bottles and cardboards,” the report stated.
The report stated that the unit has constructed a toilet with septic tank/ soak pit very close to River Sal and bath room water was disposed into the river by pipe, adding that the unit is fenced with temporary tin sheets.
That’s not all. The report stated that solid waste and ceramic waste disposal into the River Sal was found behind the toilet facility of unit. The unit Nikhil Traders is approx. three metres away from River Sal. The unit is permanent concrete structure in which bailing machines are installed and was packed with cardboard.”
“The observations indicate that your unit M/s Nikhil Traders is required to possess the valid consent of the Board under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and as per records available with the Board it is observed that you have failed to obtain the same till date, thereby amounting to gross violation of the said Act,” the GSPCB said, adding that such operation of your unit without the valid consent of the Board amounts to a violation of the provision of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
While issuing directions to close/ suspend the operation of the unit until further orders, the GSPCB Member Secretary has warned that failure to comply with the notice will compel the Board to initiate stringent legal action against the management under the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 without any further notice.
Copy of the order has been sent to the District Collector, South Goa to ensure that the operations of the unit is stopped/ closed/ sealed with immediate effect from the date of receipt of this direction and submit a compliance report in this regard to this office.
Meanwhile, Warren Alemao has said the GSPCB’s action proves that no one is above the law. “The River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete and South Goa, has long been exploited by reckless polluters and ignored by those in power. After relentless efforts by the residents of Benaulim and the people of South Goa, we have achieved a crucial milestone,” he said.
