MARGAO
All isn’t well around the wholesale fish market as an inspection of the market as per the High Court directions on Monday brought to the fore waste disposal issues and the defunct Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) once again.
After the High Court on Monday morning issued directions to officials of the SGPDA, Margao Municipality and the Goa state Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to conduct a fresh inspection at 3 pm, the inspection revealed that things have still not fallen in place.
While the SGPDA and the MMC have been quick in stopping traditional fishermen from selling fish catch in the market after 10 am, the two authorities were found wanting in resolving the core issues of hygiene, waste disposal and effluent management.
When the inspection team descended at the wholesale fish market at 3 pm on Monday in compliance with the High Court directions, the ETP was found not in operation again. The drains were found clogged with lechate generated in the wholesale fish market for want of treatment.
MMC Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar, however, said the authorities have initiated some measures to revive the defunct ETP at the earliest. The ETP, sources said, was installed around half a decade ago, but has been left defunct for want of upkeep and maintenance, as a result of which waste and leachate generated in the wholesale fish market finds its way into the adjoining river Sal.
The inspection team also found waste, including pieces of thermocol waste disposed of in the adjoining fields on the rear side of the wholesale fish market. While the MMC and SGPDA has ensure that the thermocol waste finds its way into a waste bin along the wholesale fish market road, the ground reality at the market rear side remains unchanged.
The inspection team further came across fish waste generated during cutting of the fish disposed of behind the market. Also waste comprising of shell fish was also found dumped on the rear side of the market, indicating that the two authorities have not complied the High Court directions in both letter and spirit.
GSPCB Junior Engineer Sidharth Prabhudesai confirmed that the certain deficiencies were unearthed during the inspection. “The wholesale fish market appeared cleared of the waste and litter, but waste has found its way behind the compound wall. Fish waste and shell fish waste is dispose of behind the market”, he said, adding that the carrying capacity of the bin set up for storage of thermocol waste has been found inadequate.
