MARGAO
Ahead of the High Court hearing in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) scheduled on Wednesday, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has come out with damning revelations on the rampant discharge of sewage in the storm water nallahs in Margao.
The revelations assume significance and come against the backdrop of the fact that the High Court had ordered the inspection of the storm water nallahs after the petitioner Prof Antonio Alvares had submitted to the High court that sewage water flow into the storm water drains had not stopped or abated till date.
The revelations also assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the host of inspections carried out by the agencies, including the GSPCB over the last two years, with no solution forthcoming from the authorities on sewage disposal via the storm water drains.
What’s interesting to note is that the GSPCB inspection report clearly showed that sewage and stagnant water was found in almost all the storm water nallahs inspected by the team as per the High Court orders, indicating that all isn’t well in the commercial capital on the sanitation front.
Take note, the inspection team had inspected only nallahs flowing in the Margao sector of the Margao Municipal area, with an official in private saying the situation is bad, if not worse in Fatorda area of the city.
A glance at the GPSCB findings reveals that there’s rampant flow of sewage into the once picturesque Salpem lake in neighbouring Navelim. In fact, the inspection report clearly states that sewage flows into a nallah before it flows into the Salpem lake and ultimately into the river Sal.
INSPECTION REPORT (sub head)
Site 1: Sewage flow at the Salpem Lake
1. It was observed that there is flow of sewage from the nallah which is flowing in Salpem lake and ultimately to the river Sal.
2. It was observed that there were plastic bottles, tube lights and other non-biodegradable waste floating on the sewage flowing through the nallah.
3. The said waste was accumulated at the further stretch of the nallah.
4. It was informed by the officials of SIDCGL that the sewage flow is diverted in the 20 MLD STP at Shirvodem, Navelim for the treatment during the period from October to May.
5. It was further informed by the officials of the SIDCGL and also as per the submission made by SIDCGL in its letter, the diversion of the sewage at the 20 MLD is not practically viable during monsoon. Hence, the sewage was leading towards the Salpem lake through the nallah since the diversion of sewage towards STP was stopped.
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Site 2: Sewage flow through nallah at
Kudchadkar Nursing Home
1. It was observed that there was flow of sewage through the nallah near Kudchadkar Nursing Home, which was further leading into the Salpem lake.
2. There were plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable waste floating over the sewage flowing through the nallah.
3. The said sewage flow was observed to be flowing from the Gandhi Market and Malbhat Area.
4. The official from SIDCGL informed that there is no sewer network laid down at the above said areas.
Site 3: Stagnant water opposite to Power Gym on
approach to 20 MLD & 6.7 MLD STP
It was observed that there was stagnated water at the approach to the STP plants.
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Site 4: At the 6.7 MLD & 20 MLD Sewage
Treatment Plants (STP)
1. The 6.7MLD plant and 20MLD plant were in operation.
2. The SIDCGL officials informed that there is intake of approx. 15-17 MLD of sewage in the 20 MLD STP. It was also informed that the if the intake of raw sewage is increased to the maximum capacity at 6.7 MLD plant, then the raw sewage of approx. 4-5 MLD is directed into the 20 MLD STP. The interconnection between the two STPs has already been done.
3. The OCEMS for 20 MLD is connected to the server of the GSPCB however, the OCEMS for 6.7 MLD is not yet been connected to the server of the GSPCB.
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Site-5: Sewage flow through the
nallah at Khareband
1. It was observed that the sewage was flowing through the nallah.
2. It was observed that the sewage was flowing from the Comba area towards the Khareband nallah.
Site-6: Sewage flow through the
nallah at Azadnagar, Margao
It was observed that the sewage was flowing through the nallah.
