Battle between Benaulim MLA, Environment minister on cards

MARGAO
Another round of battle between Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas and Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral is on the cards, with the Benaulim MLA demanding the registration of FIR against Cabral and the member secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board Dr Shamila Monteiro and the Chairman and Managing Director of Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa for intentionally discharging sewage in the river Sal.

Venzy along with a group of volunteers descended at the Margao police station and handed over a complaint to the police station in-charge, PI Tulsidas Naik, demanding registration of FIR against the GSPCB Member Secretary and the SIDCG Managing Director for intentionally discharging sewage in the river Sal.

He later told the media that the Water Resources Department had conducted an inspection of the stormwater nullahs in April 2021, wherein it was found that around six nullahs were carrying sewage water in the river Sal. “Based on the inspection report, the WRD had issued show cause notice to the PWD with a copy of the GSPCB,” he said, lamenting that the GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro has failed to initiate action against the gross violations of raw sewage discharge in the river.

Pointing fingers at the Environment Minister for his failure to initiate action from April 2021 till date despite inspecting the stormwater nullahs and the STP in June 2021, Venzy said the Minister is liable for action under Section 277 of the IPC for intentionally allowing the discharge of raw sewage, contaminating the river and water bodies.

“The GSPCB holds the highest post in the State, but has allowed the river Sal to be contaminated,” he said, demanding suspension of the Member Secretary for her failure to act on the WRD notice on the discharge of raw sewage.

The AAP MLA demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant immediately dismiss Nilesh Cabral from his Cabinet, saying there is sufficient evidence of gross negligence by the Environment Minister. “My sincere appeal to the CM is to dismiss Nilesh Cabral from his Cabinet. I have already submitted the documents and evidence at the Chief Minister’s office, besides the office of Governor, Chief Secretary and others how the Environment Minister failed to act on the WRD report on raw sewage discharge in the river,” he added.

When his attention was drawn to reports that WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar has mulled a joint meeting with the MLAs of Margao and Fatorda and the Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral to resolve the raw sewage discharge in the river Sal, Venzy demanded that the MLAs of Benaulim, Navelim and Velim should also be invited for the meeting on the issue.

Margao PI says plaint forwarded to seniors for advice and action

MARGAO: Margao police station in-charge, PI Tulsidas Naik has said he has forwarded the complaint received from the Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas against GSPCB and SIDCG officials to the higher-ups for advice and action.

Commenting on the complaint lodged by the Benaulim MLA, PI Tulsidas said he has sent the complaint to the police higher-ups for an opinion on how to go about the matter. “My office will initiate action in the matter based on the opinion from the department higher-ups,” he said, when asked whether the police has registered an FIR based on the complaint lodged by the Benaulim MLA.