the goan I network
MARGAO
In an interesting development, the Colva panchayat has dashed off a stop work order to the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) “ the second stop work order in the last four months - to stop all work on the construction of the controversial Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).
The panchayat decision to send the stop work order totheSIDCGL assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of a similar order served on the SIDCGL in May last.
Colva Sarpanch Anthony Mama Fernandes told The Goan that the second stop work order has been sent to the SIDCGL based on the advice received from the Municipal lawyer.
He said the Legal advisor has informed the panchayat body that work on the project has been undertaken by the SIDCGL without approval from the Town and Country Planning department, and without obtaining the conversion sanad.
“After taking cognizance of the legal advice, the panchayat has sent the stop work order to the SIDCGL with a fiat not to resume work on the sewage treatment plant,” the Colva sarpanch told The Goan.
He pointed out that work on the project has not resumed during the monsoon since the time agitated villagers had stopped all work on the project.
In the first stop work order, Colva Panchayat Secretary Paresh Rane had directed the SIDCGL Managing Director to produce all the documents, namely NOCs from the
Goa State Pollution Control Board, NIO, GCZMA, etc required to commence work on the project.
The SIDCGL MD had been further told to submit the plan showing details of construction of the project, laying of the pipeline in the village and details of process of treatment of sewerage waste water and other details within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice, failing which the panchayat has threatened to take further action as per the Panchayat Raj Act and rules in force.
The Panchayat Secretary’s stop work had come against the backdrop of the resolution adopted by the village gram sabha and the resolution passed by the Colva panchayat.
The STP plant being built by the SIDCGL adjoining the football ground, Colva had raised many an eyebrow amongst local residents, especially amongst the local tourism stakeholders as the Corporation had plans to release the treated sewage water in the Arabian Sea at the world famous Colva beach.
Questioned a local resident, Thomas Rodrigues: “Will Colva beach retain its world famous status if the treated sewage is discharged along the beach belt. Thousands of foreign and domestic tourists visit the beach every year. We do not think any tourist will step into the water if they come to know that sewage water is released in the sea.”
The issue was also taken up by local MLA Churchill Alemao with PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar with a plea to do a re-think on plans to discharge the treated sewage water at the Colva beach.
“We cannot take chances when it comes to tourism. Any malfunctioning of the STP for whatever reasons will spell doom for tourism at Colva. We have seen how the River Sal has been left contaminated with the discharge of sewage water from Margao in the river,” Churchill said.
Colva gram sabha has been insisting that the panchayat issue the stop work order on a host of grounds, including the issue of no study report and plan was submitted to the Colva panchayat.
They had also questioned the need for a massive 7.5 MLD STP plant for Colva, suspecting that the plant is designed to treat the sewage generated along Salcete’s coastal belt.
