PANAJI
While on one hand, Goa's tourism sector is battling to regain its lost glory, sea water contamination is now a cause of concern. Known for its beach tourism, the State's sea water continues to remain unsafe for bathing and tourism-related activities like water sports.
This was revealed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in its annual report 2024-25.
Not just beaches, but major rivers like Mandovi, Zuari, Tiracol, Sinquerim are highly polluted and unfit for commercial fishing. The list also includes Mapusa river, Sal river and Cumbharjua canal.
The tourist-centric beaches -- Tiracol, Miramar, Calangute, Morjim, Vagator, Arambol, Baga, Bambolim in North Goa and Mobor, Baina, Galijbag, Colva, Velsao, Colva, Bogmolo, Betalbatim, Benaulim, Varca, Agonda, Palolem and Rajbhag in South, are highly polluted and infested with disease causing pathogens.
Water samples collected from March 2024 to March 2025 have indicated a high concentration of faecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), both of which point to the presence of pathogens and bacteria in water.
The Board has categorized these water bodies as ‘SW II’ which means they fail to meet the guidelines set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) with regards to faecal coliform.
The Board had collected water samples of 115 locations that also included bore wells, lakes and other water bodies. The result revealed that St Inez creek in North and Bethora Nallah in south are categorized under “B” class indicating non-compliance to CPCB prescribed standards to parameters like DO, BOD, Fecal coliform and fecal streptococci.
In 2023 as well as in 2024, the CPCB in its report had highlighted the high presence of faecal coliform in the sea waters of Goa indicating that the water has been contaminated with faecal material of humans or animals.
GSPCB officials explain that various factors can be attributed to the high level of pollution in the beach water but the most common is the disposal of untreated or partially treated raw sewage apart from plastic waste.
As per CPCB guidelines, the quality standards for water used for bathing and contact water sports demand that the faecal coliform level remains below 100 MPN (most probable number) per 100 milliliter (ml) of water and a BOD level of 3 milligram per litre (mg/L).
The level of faecal coliform was found to be in the range of 500-1100 per 100 ml of water during the study period. The BOD limit was also in the range of 1.9 to 2.9 miligram per litre as against the permissible limit of one mg/l for Goa beaches. The level of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) varies from 6 to 8 mg/L.
