An after-thought: Decision on geo-bag tech after cost study

MARGAO
Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Wednesday launched the geo-bag technology on the banks of river Sal at Khareband-Margao, the site of a storm water nullah carrying raw sewage and waste water from the commercial capital into the river Sal.

While the WRD Minister was quick to say the technology is an impressive system of purification of water, Shirodkar, however, hastened to add that the government will take a call on implementation of the technology on all the storm water nullahs carrying sewage into river Sal and at other places depending on cost effectivity.

Launching the technology in the presence of MLAs, Digambar Kamat, Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva on the banks of river Sal, Shirodkar said the technology is a pilot project which his department is planning to install at one of the storm water nullah emptying sewage in the river Sal. “I am impressed by the technology of purification of the sewage water before it is discharged in the river. We should be always open for adoption of new technologies. Hence, when Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas suggested the geo-bag technology to stop sewage effluents into the river Sal from Margao, I immediately got  my engineers to conduct a study before inviting the promoters to give a demo today,” he told the media.

He added: “The technology seemed working well to purify the sewage waters. But, we have to see how much is the cost the company will charge to treat 1000 kilo of water. Accordingly, we will take a decision. We will evaluate the effects and benefits of the technology. The company will get back to us within 10-15 days after working out the cost effectiveness of the technology before we take a decision whether to go in for geo-bag technology to address contaminated water.”

Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, the architect behind getting the geo-bag technology to Goa, said the technology will help plug the flow of sewage water into the river Sal and save Sal from contamination. “Finally, there’s a ray of hope now that pollution in river Sal will be mitigated if not stopped totally. A beginning has been made and we have to see how to channelise the storm water nullahs and trap the sewage water from Margao flowing into Sal.”

Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said the geo-bag technology appears to be good, saying the government will extend the project to other nullahs after a cost analysis study by the company. “This is an era of technology. Shirodkar has gone for the geo-bag technology for purification of the sewage water,” he said, exuding confidence that the technology will help stop sewage effluents contaminating the river Sal.