MAPUSA
Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira on Friday said the sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Camarcazan, Mapusa was totally illegal as it did not have consent to establish.
Ferreira also said that the STP which was sought to be operated was causing the wells to dry up and there was all likelihood of contamination of ground water making it unfit for human consumption.
“People of Peddem, Carmarcazan and Acoi in Mapusa are anxious as the operation of the STP, which is sought to be operated illegally, is causing the drying up of wells and also leading to contamination of ground water thus rendering ground water unfit for human consumption and danger of illness,” Ferreira said, raising the issue during the Calling Attention.
PWD Minister, Nilesh Cabral said there was nothing to worry as the STP was yet to be commissioned.
“The very basis of operation of STP is to avoid contamination of ground water. Since STP is not operational there should be no fear in the minds of people,” Cabral said.
He also said drying of wells had nothing to do with the STP.
Ferreira informed the House that he obtained information through RTI that there was no consent to establish the STP which makes its existence illegal and placed the document on the floor of the House.
“If the consent to establish was rejected then how is the government going ahead with this STP. Even continuing any work on the plant will be totally illegal when the consent to establish only is rejected,” he said.
He said the area was very low-lying and the pipes and sewerage chambers that were laid on the roads were oozing out water like springs which was contaminating the ground-water.
“I am talking of natural water and not even rain water. If you allow the STP to operate then there will be a disaster over there,” he said.
The PWD minister assured to look into the matter.
