Margao: Asserting that all polluting units should be permanently shut down in the interest of public of Cuncolim, the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Wednesday wrote to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding several measures including to conduct survey of groundwater and surface water monitoring to give better environment to people.
In his letter, the Congress leader demanded measures to manage Hazardous Waste, Air Pollution, and Water Pollution in Cuncolim Industrial Estate.
“I would like to draw your attention to health issues faced by People of Cuncolim staying in the vicinity of Industrial Estate due to pollution emanating from steel and fish meal industries. The Cuncolim Industrial estate, which houses various industries of fish meal and steel, has become a hotspot for environmental degradation due to the lack of effective waste management systems and non-functional effluent treatment plants (ETPs),” he stated in the letter.
He said that the BJP government has failed to keep its promise to act on pollutant units for its expedient politics. “On August 6, 2024, Minister for Environment Aleixo Sequeira had promised, in the assembly, of action within two months against the pollution at Cuncolim Industrial Estate. However, concerned departments have failed to take any steps and measures to stop pollution,” Alemao said.
“Surprisingly, the polluting units which were sealed were allowed to operate within a short period of time by imposing environmental compensation and putting conditions. There is a need to check whether they have adhered to conditions and taken measures to stop pollution. Government has miserably failed to tackle the pollution problem, which is creating health issues in Cuncolim. These all polluting units should be permanently shut down in the interest of public,” he further said.
In light of these concerns, Alemao has urged the Chief Minister to take immediate measures to address the environmental issues in the industrial estate.
Installing an ambient air quality monitoring, conducting an odour control study for the Cuncolim IDC, installing real-time ambient air monitoring station, conducting characterization of hazardous waste dumping samples, and conducting survey of groundwater and surface water monitoring in and around the Cuncolim IDC to ensure compliance with environmental norms are some of the measures suggested by Yuri Alemao.
He also warned that new fish meal plant will not be allowed in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. “It is learnt that one more fish meal plant may establish in the CIE. We will not allow it,” he said.
