MARGAO
Leader of Opposition & Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao has red-flagged the highly polluting units operating in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate in a letter to Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (GSEIAA) demanding stringent action.
He said the high level of pollution in Cuncolim Industrial Estate is a major health hazard for residents.
Despite repeated complaints and media reports exposing the water and air pollution caused by the industrial units, the authorities have turned a blind eye and allowed polluting units to continue with their operations, Yuri Alemao stated in his letter.
He has appealed to the GSEIAA to take serious cognizance of his written complaint and act by taking stringent action against all polluting units. “I hope the authority will not compel us to protest, which may result in law & order issue,” he warned.
“There is water and air pollution in Cuncolim Industrial Estate, as various units are not adhering to the guidelines of the Goa State Pollution Control Board and other authorities. I have concrete information of some units operating in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate without Environmental Clearances/Consent to Operate and do not have requisite permissions from various authorities," Yuri asserted.
In his letter to GSEIAA, the Cuncolim MLA made a categorical mention of a steel unit, which he said is operating without Environmental Clearance and causing loss to the State exchequer.
“There are similar units in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate which are illegally operating and doing production beyond the capacity stated in the Consent to Operate," he further pointed out in his letter."
The Opposition leader also pointed out the pollution caused due to various fish mills in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
“People face bad smell due to dirty wastewater discharged in the open by the fish mills. Some of the fish mills pass the wastewater in bore wells which eventually pollutes to groundwater," he added.
