Goa pollution board: Campal legacy waste can affect environment

PANAJI: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued show-cause notice to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) as to why ‘polluter pays penalty’ principle should not be applied against it and made to pay Rs 18 lakh as penalty for storage of legacy waste at the Parade Ground, Campal. The board also said that legacy waste at Campal can cause environmental pollution at the site and the vicinity.
The GSPCB has given the CCP 15 days to reply the notice. During the inspection, the board found 7,500m3 of legacy waste and that around 90% of the remediation work has been completed and all the inert and compost have already been disposed of through PWD. It was also observed that approximately 2,500m3 of refuse derived fuel (RDF) that has been generated from the process of remediation of the legacy waste dump is lying at the site under cover of tarpaulin, while 700m3 of the legacy waste is still dumped at the site.
“On considering the observations, the board is of the opinion that such storage of legacy waste, unsegregated free waste, construction and debris waste and inert waste from desilting of drains and RDF that has been generated from the process of remediation of the legacy waste dump at the Parade Ground, Campal, can cause potential environmental pollution at the site and the surrounding vicinity,” GSPCB chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar stated.
The board has directed the CCP to commence the shifting and transportation of the legacy waste and all other waste dumped at the site immediately to an alternate site for remediation and compete the same within 30 days with due approval from the board.
“Immediately ensure secure covering of the RDF stored at the site at Campal with tarpaulin and ensure continuous transportation and disposal of the same,” the directive stated.