MARGAO
Citizens of Sao Jose de Areal on Sunday raised concerns after allegedly black-coloured wastewater flowing from scrap yards/industrial units was found contaminating a stream.
Demanding that agencies, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), panchayat and Health Department, conduct an immediate inspection and collect water samples to ascertain the nature of the pollutants and their source, the citizens also urged candidates aspiring to contest the upcoming Assembly election from the Velim constituency to take up the issue and put an end to the pollution.
Social activists Freddy Travasso, Peter Viegas, Tennyson and others told the media that the pollution came to light after senior citizens, who had been spending their leisure time near the banks of a Portuguese-era culvert, noticed a foul smell.
“Since it was late, they could not ascertain the source. However, when local villagers went near the culvert to trace the source of the foul odour, they found black-coloured water flowing into the nullah/stream,” Travasso said.
He added that he immediately tried contacting GSPCB and Health officials, but was informed that their offices were closed on Sunday.
“We have requested these authorities to conduct an inspection and collect water samples to ascertain the nature of the pollution and its source,” he said.
Saying that Sao Jose de Areal was still not free from the menace of scrap yards, Viegas said complaints lodged by local residents with the concerned authorities had failed to yield the desired result. “We only hope and pray that the authorities conduct an inspection and find out the source of the pollutants,” Viegas said.
