MARGAO
Asserting that releasing untreated sewerage into public drains or sewers, is a serious matter, the High Court on Tuesday directed the Margao Municipal Council to deal with the situation with utmost seriousness, saying such release of sewerage apart from occasioning nuisance, also constitutes serious health hazard.
Hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Prof Antonio Alvares in the Salpem lake pollution case, the High Court has further said the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to also consider action against commercial establishments that are allegedly involved in the discharge of sewerage into drains and fields.
When the Margao Municipal Counsel submitted before the Court that show-cause notices have been issued to the 149 households and commercial establishments and these show-cause notices will be disposed of within the next 15 days, the Court further directed that the show-cause notices must be disposed of within 15 days as stated by the Municipal counsel.
The MMC counsel stated before the Court that latest by Wednesday, the MMC will write to the Public Works Department, Work Division-XXI, about the manhole chambers as pointed out by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in the report dated 03.01.2024.
The Advocate General also stated that no sooner communication is received from MMC, the officials from this Works Division along with the officials of MMC will inspect the site and decide on the further course of action. “In the inspection carried out by the MMC officials, they have found that almost 149 households and commercial establishments are releasing sewerage directly into the drains from where it goes into the nullah and eventually into the fields/lakes,” the Municipal Counsel stated.
Petitioner Alvares submitted before the Court that all this leads into the River Sal.
The Court has posted the matter for further consideration on April 3 with a direction to the Margao Municipal Council and the GSPCB to file a compliance report.
