MARGAO
Colva witnessed an uproar on late Thursday evening after locals caught red-handed the contractor manning the Tourism Department-owned toilet block cum changing rooms, allegedly discharging raw sewage water in the Colva creek.
An agitated Colva Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes joined the villagers in demanding immediate shut down of the toilet block located near the beach and a FIR against the persons responsible for discharging the raw sewage in the creek water.
In fact, sewage odour enveloped the iconic beach and the beach square on late Thursday evening before realisation dawned on the local villagers that the sewage water from the toilet block was clandestinely being discharged in the creek.
After a Colva panch member who runs a beach shack found to his shock and surprise how the sewage water from the Tourism Department-owned toilet block is discharged into the creek, Colva Sarpanch Suzie and agitated local residents assembled at the toilet block demanding action.
The sarpanch told the media that the villagers have no issue with the changing room set up at the beach, but insisted on the closure of the toilet block for violating the rules in force. “We used to question the contractor over the disposal of the sewage generated in the toilet block and they used to point out towards the STP plant. But, we always suspected that the sewage from the toilet block is being discharged in the creek. Today, we have caught the contractor red-handed,” the sarpanch said.
While demanding an FIR against the contractor running the toilet block, the Sapranch said the panchayat will also send a show cause notice to the contactor. “The Colva creek had tarnished the image of Colva beach over the years. The Tourism Department should initiate action against the contractor and shut down the toilet block,” Suzie demanded.
Suzie along with panch members and villagers later proceeded to the Colva police station to lodge a complaint and to demand FIR against the contractor.
Panch member Domingo Rodrigues said the Tourism Department is insisting that the shack owners take care of the sewage generated in the beach shacks, demanding to know why the same yardstick is not extended to the contractor running the toilet block. “It’s eight days now since the entire area has been stinking of sewage. We demand that the Tourism Department initiate action,” he said.
Restaurant owner Mathew Diniz said the hotels and restaurants have been targeted over the years for releasing the sewage and waste water in the Colva creek. “Today’s incident showed that the government-owned toilet block is the source of contamination of the Colva creek. The government should immediately shut down the toilet block and keep the changing room open,” he demanded.
Carmo Rodrigues wondered how come the Pollution Control Board had given the nod to set up the toilet block right on the beach. “The raw sewage discharged has affected the bio-diversity. Government should take action and immediately shut down the toilet block,” Carmo demanded.
