PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to submit an interim report on the water quality of the River Mandovi within two weeks, as it continued monitoring concerns over pollution in the river stretch where offshore casinos operate.
The direction came during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation that originated from concerns over pollution in Mala Lake and was later expanded to include the Mandovi riverine stretch.
Last month, while enlarging the scope of the proceedings, the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar had flagged alarmingly high levels of faecal coliform bacteria in portions of the Mandovi.
“The main issue requiring immediate redress is the very high level of faecal coliform bacteria detected in the river, particularly in areas where offshore casinos operate. In view of this, we propose to expand the scope of the present matter to include the Mandovi riverine stretch to address the evident and ongoing water pollution therein,” the Bench had observed.
The Court had then sought a response from the GSPCB, including an action taken report on the issue.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten Venegavkar directed the Board to place an interim water quality assessment on record within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing thereafter.
The Court also reviewed the status of the action initiated by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) against houses allegedly discharging sewage directly or indirectly into Mala Lake.
CCP informed the Bench that out of 38 identified houses, 32 had already obtained sewerage connections, while two others had applied and were in the process of completing formalities.
As regards the remaining four properties, CCP stated that some cases involved documentation deficiencies while others were marked by non-cooperation from the occupants. Taking note of the submissions, the Court directed the issuance of notices to the concerned owners.
Earlier this month, the High Court had directed the GSPCB to conduct fresh water quality tests of Mala Lake and submit a report in the suo motu proceedings triggered by the discovery of dead fish in the waterbody.
On Tuesday, the Board confirmed that the water quality from the eastern and western sides of the lake remains below normal standards, and it is being monitored.
