Where are industries in Goa disposing their hazardous waste? By Whistle-Blower
There are certain industries that generate hazardous liquid waste from their processes and to avoid additional expenses on effluent treatment, some of them directly dispose this waste into nearby streams or lakes or the sea, etc. But if this liquid effluent is properly treated, the final waste discharge could possibility meet the discharge norms that are stipulated by the Pollution Control Board (PCB). But one must be aware that waste treatment does not totally solve the problem. It will only transform the hazardous substance from one form to another (e.g. from liquid to solid form). This may solve the liquid discharge problem but the resultant hazardous solid waste will now need to be disposed off to a secured land fill site (usually allotted by the state government or the Pollution Control Board). This again poses the problem of the solids spilling into nearby rivers or streams (especially during monsoons) or the possibility of seeping into the ground, where ground water and village wells in the vicinity can get contaminated with the hazardous substances. Further to the above, there are also industries set up in Goa which bring in industrial waste or sludge generated by other parties (located in other states in India) in order to extract and recover certain valuable material contained in this waste sludge. This waste could be from large industries involved with zinc or copper refining, brass production, nickel plating, etc., where the content of zinc or copper or nickel or other valuable material is often less than 5 to 10% of the total sludge. Of course, the primary industry generating this waste is happy that some other party hauls it away and reduces their burden of solid waste disposal. And one can be happy that some party is converting waste into wealth. But does one realize that after extracting the valuable material, the balance 90 to 95% waste sludge could contain material which could be much more harmful (chromium, mercury, lead, arsenic, fluorides, etc.). In view of the above, there are a few questions that can be posed to know if we are really safe by having such industries set up in Goa: * Are these industries properly treating the hazardous effluent they generate and where do they disposal the final solid waste? * Why are parties transporting industrial waste all the way from other states into Goa rather than setting up their plants (for recovery of valuable material) in those same states and closer to where the primary waste is generated? Are they restricted by those other state govts. or is the Goa govt. welcoming them with various incentives? * Since the Goa government has allowed such industries in Goa, have they allotted secured land fill sites for dumping the hazardous solid waste? And are these sites really secured (from spillage/ seepage) or large enough to accommodate the waste for the next several years? * Are the ground water and village wells in the vicinity (say within 5 to 10 km radius) regularly checked to ensure that no hazardous contaminants are building up in the water over a period of time and harming the health of the people or farmlands utilizing the water? * Are the fish in the near by waters and agricultural produce in the near by fields checked for any toxic content? * In certain areas in Goa (especially around Canacoa), why is there a sudden rise in health problems of people suffering with serious ailments of skin and internal organs (liver, kidney, brain, etc.)? Are there any industrial waste dump sites (legal or illegal) in and around this area? The above are some of the questions which could provide some food for thought and prevent further innocent victims of improper waste disposal in Goa. [This article was written by someone who is aware of the official situation, but is unable to speak out officially, in view of the lack of whistle-blower laws in Goa. Goanet Reader acknowledges this, and hence the use of a pseudonym.]
