MARGAO
The Margao Municipality has finally come under the scanner of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) over the rampant discharge of sewage water and plastic waste in the city’s storm water nullahs and drains.
In fact, Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council, Gaurish Sankhwalkar now runs the risk of being hauled up by the GSPCB, with Board Chairman Mahesh Patil warning that the Board will be compelled to initiate legal action against the Chief Officer under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 without any further notice.
The GSPCB action comes in the wake of damning revelation during an inspection of the city nullahs late last year, indicating the indiscriminate and illegal disposal of sewage, plastic and non-biodegradable waste into the nullahs, causing environmental degradation and also amounts to violation of the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.
In the light of the inspection report, the GSPCB Chairman has invoked powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 read with the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, issuing a host of directions to the MMC Chief Officer.
One, the Chief Officer has been directed to immediately clear the non-biodegradable waste and plastic waste from the nullahs as observed in the inspection report and ensure that the afore stated waste is disposed in a scientifically sound manner.
The GSPCB has further directed the Chief Officer to ensure that no plastic and non-biodegradable waste is disposed of in the nullahs in any manner that amounts to a violation of Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.
That’s not all. The GSPCB has further directed the Chief Officer to submit a compliance report with regard to the directions within a period of 7 days from the date of receipt of these directions and submit a detailed action taken report with regard to compliance by the Margao Municipal Council with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and action taken by the MMC with respect to the collection and disposal of non-biodegradable waste from the areas within the jurisdiction of the MMC.
Incidentally, the GSPCB’s directions comes in the wake of the inspection of the storm water nullahs in the city, right from the nullah near the district Collectorate, near the district hospital, near the Colva circle, at the entrance to the bypass road connecting to Comba, outside the premises of the STP and at the Salpem lake.
While the directions have been issued based on the inspections carried out last year, the ground reality has not changed for the better since then as evident by the latest inspection carried out a week ago by the agencies based on the directions of the High Court.
In fact, if the inspection conducted last year had revealed sewage and plastic waste flowing into the Salpem lake, last week’s inspection has also revealed a similar situation, with the nullah flowing into the lake via the Kudchadkar nullah choked with plastic waste and bottles.
With North main line incomplete, sewage discharge into nullahs unlikely to stop
MARGAO: Rampant discharge in the storm water nullahs in the Fatorda section of the commercial capital is unlikely to stop at least till February with work on the new North Main Trunk Line not yet complete in all respects.
If the Managing Director of Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa (SIDCGL) N Parsekar is to be believed, work on the new North Main Trunk Line is expected to be completed only by February-end.
The SIDCGL MD told The Goan during his visit to the South Collectorate on Friday at a meeting called by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, that work on the North main line will be complete in all respects by February-end. “Work on replacing the North main line is almost completed in all respects. There’s some minor work to be carried out near the Osia complex. We expect to commission the project after February,” he said.
Sewage is flowing in the storm water drains in the north of commercial capital primarily because of the North main trunk line, with sewage flowing in the nullahs near the Collectorate building, district hospital building and at the Old Market circle.
