But smoke billowing out from steel units is still a concern; Post-monsoon GSPCB to carry out more checks

This might raise many an eyebrow amongst those hit by pollution in and around the Cuncolim Industrial estate. Ambient air quality checks carried out by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has revealed that the levels of dust particle level were found within the permissible limits.

MARGAO: In a decision that will have a bearing on the fate of the illegal structures on Comunidade land atop the Talzanzor hillock, Margao, the Margao Communidade on Sunday firmly rejected any pro

MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council has no dedicated site for disposing non-conforming waste, including thermocol waste generated in the city.

MARGAO: The work of draining out water from contaminated drinking water wells in the Sirvodem ward of Margao Municipal Council commenced on Friday, even as the Margao Urban Health centre despatched

District Collector N D Agrawal along with a Margao Municipal team descended at the Sirvodem ward of the city following complaints of contamination of drinking water wells in the locality.

After the inspection, the district collector said he suspects the contamination of one well, but hastened to add that the authorities would test the water quality of wells in the locality.

MARGAO: Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Rajendra Arlekar and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha on Sunday batted for cycling as a means to control air pollution and protect the environment.

Arlekar went a step further to say that the government of the day will be compelled to make a lane for bicycles, while expressing his happiness that many MLAs in the just concluded Assembly session have rooted for bicycle lanes on the road. In her address at the valedictory function of the rally organized by Rotary Club of Margao Midtown, the Environment Minister said that cycling at short distances will not only keep one healthy, but also help protect the air and flora and fauna. “Students and adults alike can use cycles as a means of travel to the school and markets. This will keep you fit and healthy and also save the environment”, she added.

Ray of hope for farmers as CM does a rethink

MARGAO: There’s finally a ray of hope that farmers cultivating the fields in and around the once picturesque Salpem lake on the Margao-Navelim border will get their land back – more than three years after former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao proposed acquisition of the fields for expansion of the Margao sewerage project.

Promising corrective action vis-à-vis pollution in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, Environment Minister, Alina Saldanha has said she would personally visit the Estate next week to take stock of the situation on the pollution front.

Speaking to newsmen at Chinchinim on the sidelines of the awareness program on Garbage management, Saldanha said the situation is indeed alarming if pollution have affected the health and life of the local populace. “I am going to see that corrective measures are taken in the industrial estate immediately. I will visit the Industrial estate by the weekend”, she said.

Wet waste disposed off in plastic bags in dust bins has not only thrown up a problem for the waste handlers at Sonsodo, but has kicked up a row of sorts over the functioning of the waste treatment plant.

If foul odour continues to emanate from Sonsodo along with high percentage of recyclable rejects, Fomento Green blames it on the wet waste disposed off by house holds everyday.

In an unprecedented drive against plastic waste disposal at Chinchinim village, local citizens, youth, clubs, maritime institutions and the local panchayat body joined hands to clear the village roadsides of the tons of plastic waste on Sunday.

The entire road from Assolna bridge to Orlim bridge and right up to Digafond near Francon’s maritime academy was cleared of plastic waste disposed off by unscrupulous elements.