from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Sep 13: Ordering closure of three units, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has decided to put ceiling on permissions to sponge iron and scrap melting units in the state.

In a landmark decision, GSPCB yesterday ordered closure the of three industrial units at Cuncolim industrial estate in south Goa, 43 kms away from here.

"Three units M/s Nicomet Industries Ltd, M/s Sunrise Zinc Ltd., and M/s Karthik Alloys-- in Cuncolim industrial estate has been asked to close down as the board has found several irregularities including pollution," GSPCB Chairman L U Joshi stated.

South Goa's Cuncolim locals were up in arms against the units alleging water and air pollution in their village. The villagers had even initiated agitation against the units.

Officials said all three units were closed for different reasons. While Nicomet was closed for not adhering to standard norms, Karthik alloys did not possess valid consent of the board and Sunrise Zinc was found dumping hazardous waste outside its premises without taking any proper measure.

"The board has decided that no more sponge iron units and scrap melting units will be permitted in the state," Joshi told reporters after the meeting.

The board members noticed that there was 15,000 tonnes of waste in the industrial estate that can cause leakage and damage to nearby fields, he said.

Sanjay Borkar adds from Margao (for Daijiworld News Network - Goa)

Margao: Cuncolim Citizen Action Front (CCAF) has alleged that Urban Development and Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao is fighting for votes rather than fighting to shut down polluting units at Cuncolim Industrial Estate.

"For the last three years the locals from Cuncolim were opposing the polluting units and were determined to shut the polluting units. But our issue was omission by the government authorities. Now when our initiative led the department concerned to order closure of three industries, Alemao is taking credit of same for him," said one of the members of CCAF.

"If the minister and Cuncolim Municipal Council were concerned about the citizens of Cuncolim then they would have called Goa State Pollution Board (GSPCB ) to check the samples of water rather than get deputy CM Dr Wilfred D’ Souza to do it. It is the CCAF that called GSPCB for analysis of the samples. It is on the basis of these analyses that the GSPCB has taken the decision to serve closure notices and not because the Wilfred visited the site," CCAF have mentioned in their press note.
 
CCAF have also said further that Alemao has finally realized that the power of the citizens is stronger than his position and the CMC.