Blackish water stagnating at the Colva creek. Operations at the adjoining toilet block was found shut on Thursday. Pics Santosh Mirajkar.
Residents and visitors to Colva beach were left shocked on Thursday after noticing blackish, foul-smelling water stagnating in the Colva creek, raising serious concerns about possible pollution and the source of contamination.
Locals said they were taken by surprise by the sudden change in the colour of the creek water. The stagnant water emitted a strong odour, prompting fears that pollutants or sewage may have entered the creek.
A local resident said that the community has no clarity on how the creek water turned black or where the contamination originated. Residents have demanded that officials from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) visit the site immediately and collect water samples for laboratory testing to determine the nature of the pollutants.
“We have no idea how this blackish water has entered the creek. The authorities must conduct a proper inspection and test the water samples so that the source of pollution can be identified,” the resident said.
Meanwhile, the public toilet block located along the banks of the creek was found shut when locals inspected the area on Thursday. Initial inquiries suggested that the facility has been closed due to issues related to the discharge of sewage water.
No officials were present at the site to provide an explanation for the closure. However, a security guard stationed nearby said the toilet block has been closed for some time due to “operational issues.”
Tourists who arrived to use the facility were redirected to another toilet block located at the beach square.
The incident has also raised questions about the functioning of the sewage treatment system attached to the toilet facility. Residents are now questioning whether the sewage treatment plant (STP) is operational and whether the toilet block has been connected to the underground sewage network under the Colva sewerage project.
Locals fear that if the STP is non-functional or the facility is not properly connected to the sewage network, untreated wastewater could be finding its way into the creek.
“Unless officials from the GSPCB conduct an inquiry and examine the site, we will not know the exact reasons behind the blackish water in the creek or the closure of the toilet block,” another resident said, demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.
