GSPCB exploring ways to dispose of tar balls from beaches

Panaji: With tar balls appearing on the state’s coastline, the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) is worried about the disposal of the tar balls and has approached ACC cement factory in Karnataka to find out whether the tar balls can be incinerated at their facility.
Speaking to TOI, GSPCB member secretary Levinson Martins said that the board’s job is to dispose the tar balls collected by the tourism department.
“We contacted Vasavadatta cement in Karnataka to dispose the material at their factory but they told us that it is not possible. So we approached ACC and we are waiting for their response,” he added.
He also said that the board is exploring other ways to dispose the tar balls.
Last week, tar balls have once again surfaced in some coastal areas, especially Velsao, Arossim and Cavelossim and tourism stakeholders feel that more may surface in the next few days.
As per the Goa state oil spill disaster contingency plan, the tourism department is supposed to collect and keep the collected tar balls at the various beaches.
Martins said that right now tar balls have not arrived in large numbers to be a concern. Goa is the first state in the country to have oil spill disaster contingency plan to act against the tar ball menace.