Gaonkaari, Oct 2 (Representative): Residents of Milroc Kadamba at Bainguinim, Old Goa, have raised serious concerns over what they describe as a suspected unauthorised hazardous casting yard operating amid a densely populated residential area. Alleging excessive noise, dust, exhaust fumes and potential safety risks, residents have demanded an immediate inspection and a stop-work order if the operator fails to produce the required statutory permissions.

The aggrieved residents of Milroc Co-operative Housing Society submitted a written complaint on October 1 to Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai. According to the complaint, the yard is operating on land behind the Bharat Petroleum pump at Bainguinim, opposite Sunshine World School and adjacent to Milroc Kadamba, with several housing societies in the immediate vicinity.

Residents allege that heavy industrial machinery operates from around 8 am to 8 pm and sometimes continues beyond 11 pm, including on Sundays. They claim sound levels exceed 100 dB and have cited the residential daytime ambient noise standard of 55 dB under the Noise Pollution Rules.

The complaint states that residents approached the Old Goa Police Station, Old Goa Panchayat and Goa State Pollution Control Board over excessive machine noise on the night of September 28.

Dust, fumes and schoolchildren at risk

Residents have also complained of airborne dust, particulate emissions and exhaust fumes from the site, including what they describe as a strong smell of burning oil from machinery.

With a school located close to the yard, they have raised particular concern over children being exposed to noise and dust. According to the complaint, machinery noise is disturbing classes, while children using nearby outdoor grounds could be exposed to dust pollution.

Security concerns have also been raised over workers housed at the site. The residents cited an emergency 112 complaint registered following an alleged violent altercation between construction workers on the night of September 29.

‘Show us the permissions’

One of the most serious allegations in the representation concerns statutory approvals. Residents claim that when they approached the site manager seeking to see the operating licence, no permissions or pollution clearances from the GSPCB, TCP or Panchayat were produced.

The residents have therefore asked the authorities to verify whether the activity has valid land-use approval, operating permissions, pollution-control consent and other mandatory clearances.

They have also cited what they describe as a history of environmental and public-nuisance complaints concerning the same property. The representation claims that Forest Department cases were filed in December 2025 and August 2026 over the alleged illegal felling of 40 trees. It further refers to previous complaints concerning loudspeakers, firecrackers, garbage and abandoned mobile toilets at the site.

The allegations and the status of the various permissions cited by the residents require verification from the respective authorities and the operator.

The residents have demanded an urgent joint inspection. If the operator cannot produce the necessary permissions and demonstrate adequate safeguards against health, pollution and safety risks, they want the work stopped and the casting yard shifted to a designated industrial zone.

“The ongoing activity exposes residents and children in surrounding communities to serious health and safety risks and continuous disruption of peace,” the residents stated in their representation.