MARGAO
What’s the official version of the inspection carried out by the government agencies of the storm water drains and nallahs in the commercial capital? Have the inspections unearthed the rampant discharge of raw sewage into the city drains, which later finds its way into the water bodies and the River Sal?
Well, a report compiled by the Margao Municipal Council on last week’s inspection of the city’s drains and storm water drains along with officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) gives an insight into the gravity of the situation. Though the team along with the petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Prof Antonio Alvares, inspected just a couple of city storm water drains, the situation has been found alarming. In fact, almost all the nallahs inspected by the team were found carrying sewage water.
That’s not all. Though the government had set up a sewage pumping station near the Kudchadkar Hospital nallah to stop the sewage from flowing into the Salpem lake, the station was found not in operation at the time of the inspection.
In fact, the MMC inspection stated: “The barrier-type mechanism is installed by Sewerage Infrastructure and Development Corporation of Goa, to block and trap the sewage from the nalah arriving from Kuchadkar Hospital, Navelim Road Margao. The sewage from the place is then pumped into the main sewer line, and further taken to the Sewerage Treatment Plant at Sirvodem, Navelim for processing and treatment. During the time of the inspection, the sewage pumping station was not in operation; as a result, the sewage may have flown in the other side of the nallah.”
The report revealed that the nallah towards the field was found filled with plastic waste like bottles, bags, thermocoal, etc, which might have flown in the nalah or some miscreants may have dumped the waste at the place.
This isn’t the first time that an inspection of the storm water nallahs has unearthed rampant sewage water discharged in the channel. Unlike the previous inspections carried out by the agencies, the report of last week’s inspection will be placed before the High Court, raising hopes that the Court may issue directions to the agencies, including the SIDCGL to complete the sewerage network and release the house connections within a time-frame.
Report's specific findings
Storm water nallah near Kuchadkar Hospital, Navelim Road, Margao: This storm water nallah has two tributaries, from the drains of New Market and Mahatma Gandhi market Area and the drains of Malbhat and ESI Hospital.
A huge flow of sewage is found flowing in the the nallah while plastic waste is also dumped in the nallah. The nallah carrying sewage from the above-mentioned areas are running under the building which are all are almost covered. The quality of the sewage found is totally incubated. There could be every possibility that the sewage chambers in the vicinity are ruptured and the sewage is percolating in the nallah.
Field opposite Sewerage Treatment Plant, Sirvodem, Margao: During the inspection at this location, it was found that there was sewage discharge from the chambers of a building situated at Sirvodem. The sewage has been found flowing in the fields. Also, there are open toilets on private property in the vicinity.
Nallah near a garage at the Kharebhand Road: Sewage was found flowing in the nalah near the garage. However, the source of the discharge could not be located with the storm water nallah covered along its source.
Sewerage Treatment Plant: The Margao Municipal Council report, however, said the Sewerage Treatment Plant situated at Sirvodem, which is being operated and maintained by Public Works Dept Div XXI and Sewerage Infrastructure and Development Corporation of Goa, was found in a working condition. The in-charge of the plant explained the process and the capacity of the treatment plant. The sample of the sewage treatment was also shown to the petitioner, which was clear water. There was no foul and unbearable smell at the plant, the report added.
