On second consecutive day, water flowing into creek turned saffron; GSPCB is yet to collect water sample for testing; Board inaction flayed
Black coloured water in the Colva creek on Wednesday. The colour has turned saffron on Thursday.
MARGAO
On Liberation Day, cries for the liberation of the Colva Creek from raw sewage and protection of the environment, rent the air as sewage and waste water was discharged on the second consecutive day.
If black coloured water flowed into the Colva Creek on Wednesday, which finally wound its way into the sea through a man-made channel, the water in the creek turned saffron in colour on Thursday, indicating rampant discharge of sewage and effluents into the creek continues unabated.
Officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), sources said, were yet to descend at the creek to collect water sample for testing.
Petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation filed in the High Court, activist Judith Almeida cried foul over the rampant discharge of sewage and waste water in the creek. She has demanded to know whether the trench dug up on the beach was an attempt to channelise the waste and sewage water discharged by erring commercial establishments with the diabolic plan to release the accumulated water in the sea. “How can we do this when Colva, known over the world as an iconic beach, plays host to thousands of visitors every day, who bathe in the sea, eat and have fun around the beach,” Judith questioned.
She posed a straight forward question to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte – “Is this how we are celebrating Liberation Day? Are you liberating use from this kind of destruction of environment or is he encouraging the businessmen to destroy the environment and create a hazard for the people, including the tourists?
She said the Central Pollution Control Board report is categorical in pointing out to reports of pollution of the beaches in Goa, including Colva. “Are these reports not enough to awaken your conscience, Rohan Khaunte? If not, what will? All the development on the land will have no value if the government cannot protect the health of the beaches,” she added.
The activist said the Tourism Minister sought to have maintained vigil on the beach and the creek, more so when the Tourism Department has officials posted at the world famous beach.
Judith has lamented that the GSPCB teams are yet to descend at Colva to collect water samples from the Colva creek. “I made several calls to the GSPCB officials since Wednesday, but despite that I understand that no official has come to collect the water samples,” she lamented.
GSPCB’s affidavit under scanner
The petitioner in the High Court has raised questions over the affidavit filed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board in the High Court on the Colva creek. “The GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro has stated in her affidavit that some of the hotels at Colva have connected their premises to the Colva sewage treatment plant. But, I have been told by the officials of the PWD department that the Colva STP is not commissioned yet. I would like to know from the GSPCB whether the agency has told the truth to the High Court or has committed perjury,” Judith said.
She wondered where the sewage from the hotels has gone if they have connected their establishments to the Colva STP when the plant is not commissioned yet.
Answers sought from Environment Minister
Petitioner Judith Almeida has demanded to know whether Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has anything on the pollution at the Colva beach when the Goa State Pollution Control Board comes under his Ministry.
She said the incident is an eye opener to the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, which has been issuing the NOCs by overlooking the beach carrying capacity. “As the Minister for Environment, Aleixo Sequeira should find out the cause of the pollution and the discharge of the sewage in the creek and initiate action,” she demanded.
Will get sewage disposal issue in Colva creek checked: Minister
MARGAO: Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira told the media on Thursday that he would get the issue of sewage disposal in the Colva creek checked by officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
He, however, hastened to say that there is little exaggeration, besides a lot of hype on the situation at the Colva creek.
When the media drew his attention to the burning issue of sewage disposal in the Colva creek, the Environment Minister said, he should also be affected since he has a hotel at Colva.
“I believe there is little exaggeration in the claims made on the sewage disposal in the creek. But, I must admit that I have only ready in the newspaper that the channel is made on the beach to drain off the creek waters in the sea. I cannot comment since I have not gone there on the site. I will get it checked, but I believe there is lot of hype,” he asserted.
Saying that the GSPCB had in the past carried many inspections of the Colva creek and action has been taken for pollution, Sequeira said if there is any development, the GSPCB will not hesitate to act.
Reminding that the High Court is also monitoring the pollution of the Colva creek and other issues, including sewage disposal at the tourist village, the Minister said, “Since the High Court is seized of the matter, we will implement all the court directions in the matter.”
