Stricter rules for SMEs in Goa

Goa State Pollution Control Board today announced imposition of stricter rules for the small and medium scale industrial units operating in residential areas, a senior official said.
In a meeting held here, GSPCB announced restriction in timings and also exclusion of work during public holidays for such units.
"The units in residential areas are barred from working in night and also on holidays," GSPCB chairman Jose Manuel Noronha told reporters.
The Board also decided to forward its resolution on stringent rules to all municipalities and panchayats so that these provisions could be made as prerequisites for issuing licences for these units.

"It was also resolved that glass cutting, painting and printing units will not be allowed in residential areas," Noronha said.
GSPCB also extended by one year the deadline for the small scale units to apply for consent under the Air and Water (Pollution) Control Act.
"The units were supposed to apply before December 31 last year, but we have given them another one year's time. Now, they can apply by December 31 this year," Noronha said.