MAPUSA
In a sustained campaign against the pollution of the Tar River, concerned citizens of Mapusa led by Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) have appealed to civic authorities to get its act together to find a solution to the problem or be ready to face protest and even legal battle.
The RSP Goa unit has said that the water used for washing fish, chicken, beef, port and vegetables in the Mapusa market is directly released without any treatment into a gutter that connects to the Tar River.
“There are many complexes and houses which release its sewage water directly into the drain running through the market which then connects the Tar River,” claimed a study conducted by the RSP.
The RSP further said that for years the Tar creek was being used as a Ganesh Visarjan site and people from all over Bardez came to the spot to immerse the idol of Lord Ganesh.
“It is not right for the majority community to immerse the idol of Lord Ganesh in water that is filthy and polluted. We have been following this matter for the last one year. We have even cleaned the area as much as we could,” said Kishor Rao, President of RSP.
Vice-President of RSP, Salman Khan said that the sewage of the entire Mapusa including the market flows into the Tar River which makes it filthy.
“The Tar River is not a river anymore. It is so polluted that it has become a Nullah. We need to start the sewerage treatment plant as early as possible to resolve the problem,” Khan said.
The RSP has also given suggestions to counter and improve the critical condition of the river.
It said that the administration will have to first stop sewage from buildings and market from entering into the Tar River and to do that the first step is to immediately start the sewage treatment plant and give connections to the sewage line.
Rao said the RSP has held a discussion both with the chairperson and the chief officer of the Mapusa Municipal Council on the issue.
“The chairperson and the chief officer have assured us to do the needful,” he said.
He warned that if things don’t improve they will be forced to come on the road and even knock on the doors of the court.
