Pollution board urges strict vigil at borders to stop entry of PoP idols

Panaji: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has called for stricter checks by the state excise commissioner, transport department, and Goa police at state borders ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival to curb the import of plaster of Paris (PoP) idols and ensure compliance with environmental norms.

In its latest guidelines, the Board directed the commissioner of excise to mandatorily inspect goods carrier vehicles entering the state for PoP idols and prevent their entry by turning them back to their source. If vehicles cannot be returned, they must be handed over to police at the nearest check-post or station for further action.

The excise department has been instructed to permit only those idols whose vendors are registered on the GSPCB portal, ensuring traceability and accountability. Similar directions have been issued to the transport department to strengthen enforcement at entry points.

“Director general of police to issue relevant directions to the police officers at the police check post/police station, to take appropriate action against the offenders reported by the officials of excise department and transport department. Also, in case of transport of such PoP idols by rail, the police officers should check the cargo on arrival and ensure that the same is not allowed to exit from the railway station and allow only those idols where the vendors have registered on the GSPCB portal,” the guidelines state.

The Board has also asked the commissioner of state taxes to ensure that no registered establishment, permanent or temporary, engages in the sale of PoP idols during the festival. Violations will lead to immediate cancellation of registration and further legal consequences.

Further, the GSPCB directed that the officer in charge of each police station, not below the rank of police sub-inspector, take suo motu action within their jurisdiction upon receiving information about the manufacture, procurement, stocking, display, sale, or transport of PoP idols.

Police have been instructed to confiscate such idols, seal premises involved in their manufacture or sale, attach vehicles used for transportation, and initiate prosecution under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as part of the crack down.
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