MAPUSA
Determined to tackle its growing sewage management challenges, the Candolim panchayat has decided to pursue the setting up of a 40 KLD Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.
However, the project faces tight environmental scrutiny and mandatory safeguards from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
The GCZMA has granted in-principle approval for the project but made it clear that work can begin only after a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is conducted and cleared by the competent authority.
The proposed site at survey number 13/0 in Candolim, Bardez, lies within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-III and is partly affected by mangroves and an intertidal area, making it environmentally sensitive.
Inspecting officials also noted that the plot abuts the High Tide Line of a river and falls within a mangrove buffer, where an excavated pit was recently found.
Despite the environmental concerns, the panchayat has maintained that the project is vital to address long-pending sanitation issues.
“The panchayat is committed to adopting a sustainable and compliant model for faecal sludge treatment. We believe this project, executed under proper safeguards, will enhance sanitation standards and protect our local environment,” said a panchayat official closely involved with the project.
“Our goal is to provide a scientific and sustainable solution to faecal waste management, which will ultimately protect, not harm, the coastal ecosystem,” he added.
The GCZMA, while appreciating the intent of the project under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, has laid down stringent conditions for the EIA.
These include adopting a zero-effluent discharge system, ensuring no untreated discharge enters the river, and creating effective stormwater drainage mechanisms to prevent monsoon flooding.
The authority has also directed that dried sludge must be handled in accordance with Solid Waste Management Rules, prohibiting any disposal or drying near the river or mangrove areas.
Regular environmental monitoring “ particularly of groundwater quality “ and an emergency response mechanism to tackle possible leaks or system failures have also been mandated.
Environmental groups have in the past objected to the project, claiming that the land was historically recorded as a water body.
However, the panchayat insists that with proper design and oversight, the FSTP can serve as a model project balancing public sanitation needs with ecological protection.
