MARGAO
A day after lodging a complaint against PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral and Pollution Control Board and Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation officials for discharging raw sewage in the river Sal, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Friday lodged a similar complaint with the Vigilance against Cabral and the officials.
In his complaint, the MLA pointed out that the Member Secretary of GSPCB, Chairman and Managing Director of SIDCGL has failed to ensure compliance of procedure for emergency discharge of raw sewerage due to which the River Sal is contaminated.
He said there is an emergency discharge outlet in the design of the STP and has no operating valve to control the outlet in case of emergency, pointing out that the fact was known to officials and the Chairman, but they have not acted to ensure sufficient procedures in place to avoid misuse of this outlet, due to which the incident of raw sewerage discharge occurred on November 4.
He further pointed out that based on an inspection dated 8 June 2021, six locations were identified where raw sewerage was being discharged via broken sewerage chambers, STP, etc till date. The sewerage is still being left into the River Sal via these six locations, which puts on record that due to negligence of the officials, the intentional discharge of raw sewerage into River Sal is continued.
“The intentional discharging of raw sewerage into the water body due to negligence is a criminal offence under section 277 of the IPC and violation of fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” Venzy said, while requesting the Vigilance to immediately and promptly carry out a Vigilance enquiry and take stringent action against the officials and all other offenders/ culprits under the applicable laws.
