MARGAO
Six months after the High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on sewage discharge into Colva creek, residents say the water body has returned to its earlier polluted state, with black water and floating waste visible again.
The PIL was filed by the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum over contamination caused by sewage and effluents. While closing the matter, the Court had said it was satisfied with the action taken by the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
In its order, the Court observed, “we deem it appropriate to dispose of the petition, expressing our satisfaction over the steps that have been taken by the Pollution Control Board in this matter, to curb the menace of disposal of waste into the sea, and particularly the Colva Creek”.
However, locals now question whether effluents entering the creek have been stopped and whether regular cleaning is being carried out. Doubts are also being raised on whether the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd has connected all commercial establishments to the Colva Sewage Treatment Plant, especially when many owners had expressed willingness to opt for the connections.
Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida, the petitioner in the case, said she has not seen action from the Pollution Control Board, the Tourism Department or other authorities. “Just see the state of the creek. It’s sad children of tourists are bathing in the water little realising the it is contaminated,” she said.
Almeida urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Environment portfolio, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and the Colva village panchayat to work together to clean the creek.
“The Creek is indeed in a bad shape. So far we have not any the desire result simply because the Ministers and the authorities have no political will to change the situation. If this situation continues, we will not get tourists from Europe to Colva,” she added.
Activist Simon Rodrigues also said the situation would improve only after sewage connections are given to commercial establishments. “My information suggests that commercial establishments are willing to take sewage connections, but there is no cooperation from the authorities,” he said.
Simon demanded immediate intervention from the Tourism Minister and officials.
