MARGAO
The Kudchadkar storm water nullah flowing into the Salpem lake has been cleaned of tonnes of plastic bottles and waste after directions issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act.
The clean-up operation, however, has unearthed what has been feared all along -- black-coloured sewage water flowing in the storm water drain, which finally empties in the picturesque Salpem lake.
As the MMC is on the job to lift away the plastic waste that has choked up the storm water nullahs, a critical question looms unanswered - who will halt the inflow of untreated sewage into the city's storm water nullahs, subsequently contaminating the river Sal and other water bodies?
A recent joint inspection conducted by a team headed by GSPCB had laid bare the rampant discharge of sewage water into the storm water nullahs and drains. Despite multiple inspections carried out by the GSPCB along with the Margao Municipal Council, the PWD and the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL), the persisting concern remains - when will raw sewage from the commercial establishments and households finally stop flowing into the drains and nullahs.
Notably, inspection reports reveal sewage flow from areas like Malbhat, near the ESI hospital, and the nullahs flowing from the Gandhi market. The looming question, however, revolves around the next steps that the GSPCB and relevant authorities will undertake to address this issue.
Adding to the complexity, the Margao Municipal Council has identified 50-odd establishments suspected of releasing sewage and wastewater into the drains. Despite notices and reminders sent to these establishments, with copies forwarded to the Health Centre and the PWD for further action, the efforts seem to have been in vain.
Complicating matters further, as the discharge of sewage water into stormwater drains falls under the scrutiny of the High Court, no agency appears willing to disclose statistics regarding the number of commercial establishments and households responsible for this sewage discharge. Additionally, information on the establishments yet to obtain sewerage connections and the percentage of pending sewerage works in the commercial capital remains elusive.
