MARGAO
The High Court has granted four weeks time to the Margao Municipal Council to find a solution to the discharge of sewage in the drains so that the sewerage is not discharged into the fields and lakes through such drains.
After the MMC counsel Abhishek Sawant stated that the issue of drains discharging sewerage from far and wide into the fields/lakes will be considered by the Council and some solution will be found on this aspect as well, the High Court said that the GSPCB, the Sewerage Corporation and the Public Works Department should also render assistance to the Council for finding a solution to this issue.
The MMC further stated that hearings have been given in the show-cause notices, but for some unavoidable reasons, there has been some delay. The MMC counsel further submitted to the Court that the show-cause notices issued to the violators will be disposed of within four weeks from today.
The High Court was hearing the Public Interest Petition filed by a resident of Navelim Antonio Alvares drawing attention of the Court to the rampant discharge of sewerage from Margao into the water bodies, including the Salpem lake in Navelim.
Appearing in person, Alvares submitted that in the meeting with the Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council, he had pointed out to the drains which are discharging in the fields/lake. He further submitted that the Council must take some steps to redress this issue if the fields/lakes are to be seriously protected.
Incidentally, the Goa State Pollution Control Board submitted to the High Court that the notices issued by the GSPCB will be disposed of within four weeks.
