MARGAO
With no solution forthcoming to stop the contaminated sewage overflow into the adjoining fields of Fatorda, city-based NGO United Goans Foundation has complained to the South District Collector against the authorities for what it termed as willful inaction into the serious matter.
Saying that no action has been forthcoming despite show cause notice and directions issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the NGO has demanded action under Section 133 of the CrPC against the Managing Director Sewerage & Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa,
Chief Officer Margao Municipal Council and the Assistant Engineer PWD WD XXI, Fatorda.
In his complaint, UGF President Dr Ashish Kamat drew the attention of the District Collector to the fact that the GSPCB had inspected the site and prepared the inspection report based on which the issue was put up to the Board and subsequently notices were issued under the Air Act and the Water Act to the MD SIDCGL, Chief Officer Margao Municipal Council and then the AE of PWD WD XXI.
He claimed that all the authorities who were issued show-cause under some pretext or the other have hoodwinked the GSPCB who under political pressure has not taken requisite action as necessitated by Law.
“The AE PWD had petitioned the GSPCB that he would attend to the issue by December 2020 but still hasn’t taken action. The raw sewage is still flowing continuously into the fields at the location mentioned as on date and the same is in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, Environment Protection Act 1986 and the Water Act 1974 and the Air Act 1981,” the complaint pointed out while demanding action in the matter.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had visited the site last month with officials, who had sought two months time to work out a temporary solution to the problem.
The PWD Minister had promised to expedite work on the north mainline passing through Fatorda.
