File photo of establishments and households discharging sewage and waste water in the drains.
MARGAO
Days after the High Court issued a host of directions to concerned authorities in the Salpem lake pollution case, the Margao Municipal Council has cracked a whip against the erring establishments for discharging sewage and waste water in the storm water drains.
In fact, around 20 days after the High Court issued the directions in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a citizen of Navelim, Prof Antonio Alvares over the contamination of the once picturesque Salpem lake, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz has issued notices to 46 establishments for closure.
Exercising powers vested in him under the provision of the Goa Municipalities Act 1968 and the rules made there under, Chief Officer has issued separated orders to stop the business activity and close down your premises with immediate effect.
The Chief Officer has warned that failure to stop the business activity and close the premises will force the Municipal Council to initiate further action to seal the premises.
A glance at the order revealed that the MMC had issued show cause notices to these establishments dated February 12, 2024 directing the owners to stop the discharge/release of sewage in storm water drains under section 197 read with section 224 of the of the Goa Municipalities Act 1968 and under section 41 of the Goa Public Health Act 1985, in view of direction in PIL WP 22/2021 by High Court of Bombay at Goa.
The 46 establishments were further directed to show cause why trade licence (if any) issued by the Council, should not be revoked and why the premises should not be sealed
Incidentally, owners of these 46 establishments had neither failed to reply to the show cause notice nor taken any measure to stop the discharge of sewage in the storm water drain released from the premises.
That’s not all. The MMC has pointed out that the owners nor their representatives had appeared before the Chief Officer for the hearing, prompting the civic body to refer the matter back to the High Court.
Based on the status report filed by the MMC, the High Court had on November 19 directed the Margao Municipal Council to initiate action against the 46 establishments and file a status report before the Court on January 13.
