PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will now ask both the companies proposing to build marinas along the banks of the River Zuari to carry out river carrying capacity study on their own by partnering with the BITS Pilani, Goa and Annamalai University of Tamil Nadu.
The GSPCB in its 119th board meeting held on Thursday, has resolved that the Yacht Haven (Goa) — a sister concern of one of Goa’s leading industrial houses, Chowgule & Co, and Kargwal Marina, proposing to build marinas at Sancoale and Nauxim respectively, will be requested to conduct river carrying capacity study at the locations.
Speaking to the media person after the board meeting, the chairperson of GSPCB Jose Noronha said that the study is needed to determine if the projects are viable and to know impact on the river.
“The environment department recently communicated to us about its unwillingness and lack of expertise in carrying out carrying capacity study of rivers and asked us to undertake such study in terms of power vested under section 17 of the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981,” he added.
He further said that the board has now decided that the project proponents will have to conduct the study jointly with the environmental engineering department of BITS Pilani of Goa and ecology department of Annamalai University based in Tamil Nadu at their own cost, and submit the final report to the board for its decision.
It may be recalled that the GSPCB during its 118th board meeting held in March last year had recommended that a study should be conducted by the environment department to determine the carrying capacity of river before allowing any major projects like marinas in the state’s rivers.
Meanwhile, in a bid to reduce dust pollution resulting from the coal handling operation at the MPT, the GSPCB decided for the first time to reduce coal handling capacity by 25 per cent of both coal handling agencies – Jindal and Adani.
The board decision came in response to the show cause notices slapped on MPT (berth number 9), Adani Mormugao Port Terminal Private Limited (berth No 7) and South West Port Limited – Jindal (berth No 5A and 6A) for causing air pollution.
The board further resolved to ask the coal-handling agencies to follow GSPCB guidelines to prevent health hazards to the residents staying in nearby areas, otherwise their 25 per cent reduction on handling coal will not be lifted.
“It was found recently that the air quality at berth no 5A and 6A of MPT port to have been deteriorated considerably and the PM10 value to have exceeded four times the prescribed limit. Coal-handling agencies have been directed to formulate a comprehensive plan and implement it expeditiously to curb the pollution. The agencies were told to initiate pollution control measures for three months starting from February-April to bring down the level of air pollution in the core operational area of the port and its civil township within the permissible limit,” said the chairman of GSPCB.
“We will regularly monitor the ambient air quality and review the monitoring report monthly for next three months. If they found to be violating the norms, then the reduction of coal handling limit will continue. This measure will help to bring down the dust pollution,” he added.
He said that the agencies were earlier asked to comply with proper air quality standards, adding they were also warned of legal action under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, if they failed to maintain the standard of air quality.
In yet another decision taken during the meeting, the board reviewed its earlier decision and allowed the operation of all the small scale units like cement godowns, fabrication units, and garages except for glass cutting, painting and printing units that have detrimental effect on health, to carry out operation in residential cum commercial complexes within their enclosed premises from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and between 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. and resolved not to allow these activities during holidays and Sundays.
The board further approved extension to all small scale units like bakeries, fabrication units and others to obtain consent from the board by end of this year without paying late fees.