Goa airport told to get consent under Air and Water Act

Goa airport authorities have been asked to apply for consent under the Air and Water Pollution Control Act within 15 days, for its solid waste management, a senior official said today.
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), in its notice issued to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) on June 18 with regard to the management of the Goa facility, has asked them to properly fix the functioning of sewerage treatment plant (STP) and also comply with environmental norms for solid waste disposal.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said the airport management will have to reply within 15 days.
Goa airport was in the news for failure to renew its consent to operate under the Act, since 2011.

Noronha said the airport management has begun the process to obtain the consent, which is mandatory for such a facility.
The Chairman also said that if the airport management fails to comply with the directions given by the Board within 15 days, legal action would be initiated.

He ruled out the possibility of closure of the airport, as reported by local media, in absence of consent to operate.
"There is no issue of shutting down the airport. The notice clearly mentions that the legal action would be initiated against the airport director," Noronha added.
The discrepancies by Goa airport management were noticed by GSPCB officials in March this year, when the facility was inspected as per directions by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.