Panaji, Aug 29 (IANS) Sesa Goa Ltd (SGL) Wednesday admitted to "accidental misfiring" of two burners at its coke plant here causing pollution in nearby areas. But it refuted allegations of fraud in setting up the plant.
SGL's statement was published on the front pages of newspapers in Goa two days after people of Navelim village, 40 km from here, observed a shutdown to protest against the pollution by the coke plant.
"Sesa remains committed to maintaining highest standards of environmental safeguards and regrets the accidental misfiring of two burners," SGL said.
The statement confirms that high capacity diesel burners misfired through two days - Aug 17 and Aug 18 - generating soot "which dispensed into the atmosphere affecting neighbouring areas".
"All mitigating measures have already been taken and Sesa is ready to undertake any other practical measures to restore confidence of the population," SGL said.
The company, however, refuted allegations levelled by the villagers and others that it had violated laws and kept the authorities in the dark about the new project in Navelim.
"The expansion project has been set up in the notified industrial land acquired by the Goa Industrial development Corporation. As per Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006, no public hearing is required for industries being set up within notified industrial areas," the statement said, responding to allegations of regulation manipulation.
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