CORTALIM
Following complaints regarding contamination of water bodies and paddy fields in Pale-Velsao,
members of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) along with local MLA Alina Saldanha visited the village on Thursday to stake stock of the situation.
The officials collected water samples from two places at Belem and Katem, both in Pale-Velsao.
According to locals who live along the foothills, the sewage from the housing complexes atop Sancoale and Pale-Velsao plateau has been seeping down the slope and contaminating water bodies in their area.
“We have been facing these problem for a very long time. We have also informed various authorities but nobody cares, and we have not been cultivating our fields as our bodies begin to itch,” said Ramdas Mahadev Naik, a farmer.
Another resident, Ramchandra Naik, pointed out that authorities issue permissions for housing complexes, but there is no check on the logistics which have to be in place.
He also said many septic tanks have been deliberately constructed without a concrete base so as to deliberately facilitate seepage of sewage, which ultimately finds it way in low-lying areas.
Stating that his department will test the water samples, GSPCB member secretary, Levinson Martins, informed that he will first look for sewage flow, and then check for the source from where it is being discharged.
“If the sewage is being discharged from the housing colonies, then my department will suggest measures to be adopted to plug this leakage,” said Martins, adding, if the sewage flow is from nearby houses then the health department will intervene.
When asked what action would be initiated if the housing colonies refuse to comply with the directives, Martins said replied that the Water Act would be invoked against the culprits.
Local legislator, Alina Saldnaha, also assured the residents that the problem will be solved and promised to personally follow up the issue with the departments.
Complaints of overflowing septic tanks from housing colonies, and even five-star resorts, have become commonplace, with locals complaining of release of sewage into nearby paddy fields and open spaces.
