PANAJI: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Thursday issued show notices to seven stone crushers as to why they should not be closed down. The board also issued directions to 24 stone crushers to fulfill the condition laid down in consent to operate after they were found operating with minor and major deficiencies.
Last week, GSPCB inspected 62 stone crushers in the vicinity of the villages of Dramapur, Sarzora and Sao Jose de Areal in South Goa, following complaints from residents about dust pollution.
GSPCB chairman Jose Manual Noronha said that of 62 stone crushers, 11 have been found working satisfactory, two found working without consent to operate, five found for major deficiencies, 24 found for minor deficiencies, 17 not in operation and three could not be located.
The show cause notice issued to seven major violators states, "operation of your unit without the consent to operate of this board, amounts to a violation of the provisions of the Air Act and further such operation is resulting in the causing of air pollution in the vicinity of your unit".
"Stone crushers are directed to show cause in writing, within 7 days from the date of receipt of this notice, as to why, the units should not be directed to suspend operations, for operating the same without the consent to operate of this board as required under Section 25 of the Water Act," Noronha said.
The show cause notice also said that failure to satisfactorily comply with the aforestated direction of the board within the stipulated time period will compel the board to initiate further stringent legal action in terms of the provisions of the Water Act that will include issue of directions for closure or suspension of operations without any further notice.
Noronha said that for minor deficiencies, stone crushers have to compel with one of the following requirements as they have not been able to compel such as tree plantation around the quarry, metal roads, dust suppression system, water sprinklers and drains around the quarry.
