MARGAO
In December 2023, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) issued directions to around 43 hotels and establishments to connect their premises to the 7.5MLD Colva treatment plant.
Days later, the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (SIDCGL) went to the town, asserting that the Colva sewerage plant is ready in all respects for part commissioning.
The ground reality has not changed for the better. The STP has not started receiving sewage from the hotels and restaurants till date when the hoteliers are ready to connect their establishments to the plant.
Reason: Inquiries by The Goan has revealed that the SIDCGL has now informed the hoteliers and restaurant owners that sewage from their establishments will be accepted by the STP only when the plant undergo load enhancement, throwing up a question why the officials did not take the load enhancement question into account while announcing that the plant is ready for part commissioning.
Inquiries have further revealed that the SIDCGL has prepared a file for load enhancement, which will be forwarded to the Electricity Department. While a SIDCGL official exuded confidence that the load enhancement work may take place later this month, sources, however, say it all depends on how fast the Electricity Department executes the job.
A hotelier told The Goan that the hospitality stakeholders are all willing and ready to take the sewage connections, but an impression is created by the GSPCB and others that the hoteliers and restaurant owners are not inclined to go for the connections.
Even as questions are raised when exactly the Colva STP will open its doors for the sewage from the hotels and establishments, the Colva creek again came under scanner with the contaminated waters emitting foul odour, right at the entrance to the world class Colva beach.
