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--------------------------------------------------------------- Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum protests proposed hazardous wastes land fill site in Cuncolim ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF) is deeply distressed that the Chief Officer and Councillors of the Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) have come under intense pressure to clear the applications submitted by two industrial Units namely M/s Nicomet Industries Ltd. and M/s Sunrise Zinc Ltd. for setting up a Hazardous waste Land fill Site in the town of Cuncolim on land adjacent to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate. CCCF is even more distressed at the implied threat to the Cuncolim Municipal Council that in case the NOC for the land fill site is not granted then the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GOA-IDC) will use the urgency clause and undertake the acquisition of the 29,000 sq. metres of land for creating a burial ground for hazardous waste despite the opposition expressed by the citizens and the Municipal Council. The CCCF is of the opinion that the GOA-IDC is adopting a very dangerous policy wherein it sets up Industrial Estates by acquiring land which is within the jurisdiction of Municipal Councils and Village Panchayats, invites national and multinational big industrial houses to set up shop without making provisions for disposal of the industrial waste and then declares the land as a "notified area" taking them out of reach from the democratically elected local governing bodies. Although the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments have been in force, the GOA-IDC is attempting to arm twist the local self governing bodies by using the threat of further land acquisition and undertaking projects without going through the procedure of land use change as per the rules of the Town and Country Planning Act 1974. It is evident that the GOA-IDC cannot be reigned in by the Govt. of Goa as there is a direct contradiction between the plans and desires of GOA-IDC and the Goa Govts. declared intentions for having a new Regional Plan 2021 as per the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1974 for which it has even set up a Task Force. The CCCF is of the view that although Industrial Development is necessary for the growth of any society and Industrial Units can co-exist with the community, this can be possible only when there is proper land use planning and decentralised decision making. From the point of view of a functional environmental democracy which is based on proper access to information, public participation and access to justice, the proposal of the Cuncolim hazardous waste landfill site is a fraud on its citizens. The CCCF is convinced that the present conflict of interests between the GOA-IDC on the one hand and the Cuncolim Municipal Council and its voters on the other with regards the issue of the landfill site is yet another reminder of the need for a new comprehensive Municipal Act for Goa which incorporates the 74th Constitutional Amendment in letter & spirit. At the meeting of the CCCF held on Sunday 21st October in Cuncolim it was resolved to write to all the Councillors of the Cuncolim Municipal Council to conduct a meeting of the voters of their respective wards to discuss the proposal of setting up a hazardous waste landfill site in Cuncolim and ascertain their views. It was also resolved to request the Chairperson and the Chief Officer to convene a special meeting of the Council to discuss the issue of hazardous waste landfill site and to invite the representatives of the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), Directorate of Health Services (DHS), the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the South Goa Collectorate to the meeting. It was also resolved to write to the Urban Development Minister Mr. Joaquim Alemao and MLA of Cuncolim Constituency, the Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat and the Chief Secretary Mr. J.P.Singh to immediately intervene to stop the setting up of a Hazardous wastes Land fill Site for the two industrial units in Cuncolim and instead take steps at the Cabinet level to expedite the implementation of the proposed Landfill site for the whole of Goa as per guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the management of Hazardous Wastes. The CCCF volunteers have also decided to launch a national and global awareness campaign to save the town of Cuncolim from becoming another Bhopal by preventing an impending environmental disaster where in large tracts of land are sought to be taken over for burying the hazardous wastes which are presently kept within the Industrial Estate covered with plastic and tarpaulin sheets. The CCCF volunteers have decided to use the Right To Information Act 2005 and the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 to identify the vested interests involved and to demand for an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Public Hearing from the Goa State Pollution Control Board. The CCCF will also appeal for assistance from national & international organisations like Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Toxics Links, LIFE, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. ----------------------------------------------------------- Message from the Cuncolim Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF)< mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ------------------------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------
