the goan I network
MARGAO
In a development that has virtually rejected the demand of the villagers of Colva, including local MLA Churchill Alemao to shift the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) being constructed at the football ground, the Sewerage & Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd has told the Colva panchayat that it is not possible to shift the STP when the plant has reached the stage of commissioning.
Nearly a month and half after officials of the Sewerage & Infrastructural Development Corporation had an interaction with the panchayat representatives and villages on the issue, the Corporation has now told the panchayat that it is not possible at this stage to shift the STP to any other remote area as the construction of the sewage treatment plant is completed and is awaiting commissioning.
That’s not all. Corporation Managing Director has made it clear to the panchayat body that the construction of the STP had started only after the No Objection Certificate was availed from the village panchayat dated March 9, 2015.
The Corporation has also addressed the issue of the panchayat body raising the question of not taking the TCP clearance for the project, with the Managing Director pointing out to the panchayat body that the same is pending with the TCP department and will submit ex-post facto approval to the panchayat.
Addressing the objections raised by the villagers over the construction of the STP on the land acquired for the football ground, the Corporation Managing Director pointed out that the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs had issued the No Objection Certificate for taking up the construction of the STP at survey No 25/14, 15 and 16 admeasuring 5,650 sq.mts.
The Corporation has further told the panchayat that its show cause notice cum stop work order restraining it from going ahead with the work has been vacated by the High Court, adding ‘in view of the High Court order, this office is planning to start the work at the earliest’.
During the interaction with the panchayat representatives, local MLA Churchill Alemao and the citizens, Sewerage Corporation officials had offered to take the treated water to the River Sal following concerns expressed by the local villagers that discharging the sewage waters into the Arabian Sea off Colva coast will spell doom to tourism at the world famous iconic beach.
When The Goan contacted Colva Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes to shed light on the letter received from the Sewerage Corporation, the sarpanch pointed out that the letter will be placed before the panchayat body for an appropriate decision.
He pointed out that since the letter makes no mention of the Corporation’s proposal on releasing the treated STP water into the River Sal instead of the Arabian Sea, the panchayat would write to the Corporation to clarify its position on the discharge of the treated sewage water. “I will place the letter received from the Corporation before the panchayat body for a decision. We would also like the Corporation to come on record on its stand that the treated water will not be discharged in the sea, but in the river Sal,” Anthony stated.
