MARGAO
With the discharge of sewage into the lakes, water bodies and fields reported in the villages of Seraulim and Sernabatim, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ensure that a mechanism is put in place wherein sewage is transported from septic tanks in view of the high water table along the coastal belt.
He also made a plea to the Chief Minister to tone up the functioning of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to ensure it responds to the complaints and acts against the violators involved in discharging raw sewage into the fields and water bodies.
The Benaulim MLA along with officials of the GSPCB and villagers descended at Colva on Wednesday evening for an inspection after farmers and residents complained of sewage water flowing out of a residential complex.
The MLA had a face-to-face with the officials when the latter pointed out that the issue concerns the Health Department as the Public Health Act empowers it to disconnect power and water connections of erring establishments. Venzy, however, reminded the officials that the residents are presently concerned with the environment as the discharge of sewage has devastated the fields and water bodies.
Saying the Department of Environment is not concerned to protect the environment, Venzy said the sewage is flowing everywhere, but the Chief Minister seemed to have run out of ideas on how to address the situation.
“It is the government’s duty to make sure that if the sewage is flowing into the water bodies and fields due to the high water table in the coastal area, a mechanism is put in place to lift the sewage periodically and give relief to the people,” he said.
