Will enhance dust control measures: Porvorim contractor to pollution board

Panaji: In response to a show cause notice issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, the contractor for the six-lane elevated corridor project in Porvorim, Rajendra Singh Bhamboo Infra (RRSM), has promised to ‘vigorously’ cover any material being transported to ‘avoid fugitive emissions’.

The contractor has also agreed to ‘raise the barricade along the perimeter and mount dust barrier sheets, green mesh on scaffolding around the construction area particularly facing residential and commercial area’. The board has said that this barricade should be raised up to a height of approximately 12-15m.

“The same shall be implemented vigorously to prevent dust, water sprinklers are deployed and the same shall be maintained through the stretch to avoid inconvenience to the public,” the RRSM has assured the GSPCB.

While the board had recommended using sweeping machines at night along the construction site and also from Porvorim to Guirim, the Rajasthan-based contractor has said that dust control measures are being implemented using water sprinklers.

The board also told the contractor that it should regularly carry out water sprinkling on the road inside the construction area as well, not just the adjacent roads. The GSPCB has asked RRSM to ensure that there is no stagnation of water anywhere.

The GSPCB observations came from a site inspection carried out by the board at the construction site.

The inspection report stated that the contractor has stacked/dumped all the excavated soil which is generated during piling work on the existing road near the Neo-Majestic hotel junction.

“While inspecting the Porvorim to Guirim highway, it was noticed that a lot of dust was observed at several locations settled on the public main road and due to the continuous traffic movement, the same dust is airborne. Presently, the piling work is carried out at the location near Delfino’s supermarket, near Mall De Goa, and near the Guirim petrol pump junction. The project proponent has not provided a windshield to prevent dust emission spreading outside and surrounding area,” the GSPCB said.

No regular water sprinkling is carried out inside the project area and on the diversion road, due to which the fugitive emission occurs during vehicular movements, the report of the inspection carried out on Oct 24 noted.

“Also, excavated soil transported is not covered, due to which spillage and fugitive emissions occur,” the inspection report had said.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.