Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In a major development, the State Expert Appraisal Committee has recommended the closure of M/s Orange Fox Steel Private Limited unit at Cuncolim Industrial Estate for causing massive air pollution and operating in violation of MoEFCC rules.
The decision was taken at the 16th meeting of SEAC, held on December 14 at Panaji.
The minutes of teh meeting state that as per the intimation received through E-Mail on October 17, 2022, the Committee inspected the site on 30/11/2022.
“During the Site Inspection, the Committee observed that the respective Project Proponent, M/s Orange Fox Steel Pvt Ltd, has not obtained prior Environment Clearance and also, the steel industry is operational without even installation of the proper chimney as of today, which causes massive air pollution,” the minutes read.
Further, it says, as referred to the Office Memorandum dated July 7 2021, issued by MoEFCC, cases where projects have either started the construction work or installation on site without obtaining prior Environmental Clearance are to be treated as a violation.
“In the context of the above, the Committee unanimously decided to recommend to the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA ) for immediate closure of the unit,” it reads.
The members of the Committee are Dr Benjamin Braganza, Dr Dipak C..S Gaitonde, Dr Shekhar U Rivonkar, Sanjay Amonkar, Subhash Bhosle, Gautam Vikas Desai (Chairman) and Sanjiv Joglekar (Secretary).
The issue was raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, who is also Cuncolim MLA.
He had written to SEIAA for closure of Unit due to massive pollution caused.
