PANAJI
Two days after large quantities of dead fish were found floating in Mala Lake, CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate on Monday said preliminary findings point to untreated sewage inflow as the likely cause, leading to a sharp drop in dissolved oxygen levels and the death of hundreds of fish.
Monserrate, along with officials from the Fisheries Department, Goa State Pollution Control Board, and the Water Resources Department, inspected the lake following complaints from residents about a strong stench in the area. The lake has since been cleared of the dead fish.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, the Mayor said water samples have been collected for analysis. “Authorities have indicated that sewage entering the lake may have caused the fish deaths,” he said.
He added that a multi-departmental meeting has been scheduled for April 15 to discuss long-term corrective measures, linking the incident to a broader and worsening issue affecting Panaji’s water bodies.
“This is part of a larger problem. If you look at the St Inez Creek, significant sewage inflow continues unchecked. Several colonies are discharging waste into the water, and debris dumping is also taking place. This is fast turning into a health concern,” Monserrate said, warning that the situation could escalate over the next two to three years if not addressed.
Calling for a comprehensive approach, he said past mitigation efforts ” including aeration projects under the Smart City Mission ” have failed as they focused only on isolated stretches rather than the entire ecosystem.
The Corporation is now working towards a long-term, five-year plan aimed at restoring and stabilising the creek system. “Our focus will be on reducing COD and BOD levels and improving overall water quality. Mala Lake and the Lake View Colony lake will both be included in this plan. A permanent, well-planned solution with expert input is the need of the hour,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure gaps, Monserrate pointed out that several areas in the city still lack proper sewage connectivity. “Localities such as Camrabhat are not yet connected to a sewage network. We will identify all such sources and address them systematically. Some colonies also lack the resources to maintain their systems, so this will take time,” he added.
