File photo of sewage discharge in drain. Has the constitution of the Core Committee in any way helped to fix the sewerage issues plaguing the commercial capital?
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Amongst the host of directions issued by the High Court in the Salpem lake contamination Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to various authorities to stop the sewage discharge in drains and nullahs, the directions issued to the “Core Committee” makes for interesting reading.
For, questions are being asked on the role of the “Core Committee”, the members on the panel, its brief to prevent the rampant discharge of sewage in the drains and the number of meetings this panel had held since it was constituted exactly two years ago in November 2022.
Consider this. In its order passed two days ago on November 19, the High Court was categorical in saying that the Core committee, is directed to immediately convene a meeting and decide to take appropriate action/steps for redressal of sewage discharge in the low lying areas, such as Malbhat, Gandhi Market etc, within a period of two weeks from the date of the order and file an Affidavit of Compliance within a period of one week thereafter.
That’s not all. The High Court has further directed the Core committee to suggest temporary/permanent measures which can be taken to prevent the discharge of sewage from the low-lying areas, such as Malbhat, Gandhi Market, etc, in the storm water drains by the next date so that further orders could be passed.
Questions are raised why the Court has issued directions to the Core Committee, apart from the various authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) and the PWD, Sewerage.
The reason is simple. For, the High Court in its order dated November 21 exactly two years ago had suggested that the meetings of the Core Committee must be held with increased frequencies so that the issues raised in the PIL are sorted out once and forever. “It is only with the cooperation of all the authorities and by all the authorities acting in tandem that this Salpem lake can be saved and restored to its earlier glory”, the High Court had observed in its order dated November 21, 2022.
This has only thrown up a question or two as to how many times the Core Committee has met since the time it was constituted on November 14, 2022 and the panel had its first meeting four days later on November 18, 2022.
That’s not all. Questions are being raised over the exact role to be played by the Core panel, its brief and powers to put the sewerage project in place and how it will go about the job of monitoring the speedy execution of laying sewerage lines
