5 sponge iron plants served notice for dumping toxic waste

Panaji, Mar 29 (UNI) The Goa Government has served notices on five sponge iron plants for allegedly dumping coal dust, considered toxic waste, at Anmod Ghat in Mollem wildlife sanctuary and Mahavira National Park area on Goa-Karnataka border.

The Goa State Pollution Control Board also convened a meeting with representatives of the plants and warned them of stern action if they repeated the mistake.

Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza said the plants were also directed to clear the debris within three days or else face closure.

The action comes following media reports and a complaint lodged by Belgaum-based environmental group ''Paryavaini'' with Goa and Karnataka state administrations.

The police and Road Transport Office of the Mollem check post have also been directed to keep a vigil on the movement of trucks from sponge iron plants from Goa to Karnataka.

Goa State Pollution Control Board chairman Dr L U Joshi said that a total of 700 bags of coal dust were found dumped at ten locations, in a radius of 200 metres, six km away from Mollem checkpost at Anmod Ghat. One of the dumps was located near the mouth of a natural drain.

Another batch of 50 toxic waste bags were dumped at a site on Goa-Karnataka border. The material was packed in cement bags and was thrown in the forest area and wild life sanctuary, endangering the flora and fauna.

The Goa Sponge Iron and Power and Shraddha Ispat, meanwhile, have denied their involvement in the dumping and told the board that they were disposing the waste within their premises or to brick manufacturers.

The notices were served under section 31(A) read with section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

UNI BM MAZ VD HT1927