MARGAO
It has been several months now since the ambitious 7MLD Colva Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) has been in place as part of the government’s ambitious project to cap sewage issues plaguing the tourist village.
Questions, however, remains unanswered whether the STP is made operational and treating the sewage generated in the village or whether the plant is not yet commissioned for want of response from the commercial establishments? Or, whether the delay in the power load enhancement proposal has hit the project? Or, still whether the project lay grounded over a blame-game involving agencies and stakeholders, causing inordinate delay in the commissioning of the project when sewage and waste water finds its way into the creek.
The proceedings in the High Court in the Public Interest Litigation filed by the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum provide an insight into the status of the long-delayed ambitious project.
Consider this. During the last date of hearing, the government counsel made a bold submission, stating that sewage treatment plant is in place at Colva, before he stated the same is not operation on the plea that applications for only 25 domestic connections and 17 commercial connections have been made.
The government counsel made a further submission that notices have been issued to about 43 commercial establishments directing them to connect to this sewage treatment plant.
On the ground, however, owners of commercial establishments dish out a different story. They have pointed out that the commercial establishments are all ready and willing to connect their establishments to the common STP, but they have been told that the plant is not commissioned yet for want of load enhancement.
On the other hand, members of the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, have filed an affidavit in the High Court stating that its members and villagers too are ready to take the sewerage connections, but the application forms are not available to the public.
Inquiries by The Goan has revealed that though the STP has been in place at Colva, completed in all respects, over the last several months, it could not be commissioned for want of prescribed power load.
In fact, the application made by the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd for load enhancement is presently pending with the Electricity department. In fact, sources informed the power officials have raised certain queries over the load enhancement proposal after an inspection, leaving the SIDCGL to comply with the queries before granting the application.
Petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation, Judith Almeida, Secretary Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, lamented that the authorities are involved in a blame game as a result of which the much-needed project is yet to see light of the day.
“In the High Court, the government counsel has made a submission that the commercial establishments have not taken the connections. But, is the Colva STP equipped with the required power load to treat the sewage. Has the authorities made available the application forms at the Colva village Panchayat for the households and commercial establishments to apply”, Judith questioned, saying a host of questions remain unanswered till date.
