MARGAO
The contaminated Colva creek at the iconic beach was the centre of attention, but for a different reason.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas descended at the creek along with Water Resources Department (WRD) officials to plan its maintenance, on Monday morning. By evening, former MLA Churchill Alemao's nephew Warren Alemao demanded that the MLA should get all the erring hotels to stop the discharge of waste into the creek if he is at all serious about reviving the creek. Warren further demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant order a probe into the works executed in respect of the desilting and beautification of the Colva creek.
After an inspection on Monday morning, the Benaulim MLA told the media that he has inherited the problem of contamination of the water body. The MLA said he has mulled a long-term solution to the issue of restoring the creek in consultation with the Colva panchayat and officials.
“I am of the opinion that Colva creek can be maintained only if there is the maintenance of the water body every month. Hence, I will take up with the WRD Minister to float a tender for the monthly maintenance of the creek for the next three years. When Colva beach is getting footfall of around 5,000 on an average per day, we cannot allow this mess to continue right at the beach entrance,” he said.
After discussing with WRD officials over the phone, Venzy announced that the WRD will take up the cleaning of the creek from Tuesday on a war footing. “I will get all approvals for the monthly maintenance contractor in the next 30-60 days. The message is loud and clear that we are not here to pass the buck, but I have taken the responsibility as an MLA even though the problem has been inherited by me,” he said.
By evening, former MLA Churchill Alemao’s nephew Warren Alemao demanded that the MLA should get the erring hotels to plug the wastewater before taking up the cleaning work. “I had visited the creek last week after the local youth complaint of a foul odour emanating from the water body,” he said.
He added. “The situation is indeed serious. But, what is even more serious is that the government had floated a tender to desilt and beautify the creek with funds, amounting to crores of rupees. The question that needs to be addressed is whether the work was completed as per the work order or the contractor has to still complete the work.”
