Cortalim MLA Anton Vas along with local villagers on Friday evening allegedly caught a sewage tanker red-handed while dumping sewage on open land near Blueberry Hall at Cortalim.
The incident triggered outrage among residents, with the MLA demanding stringent action against those responsible. Verna Police rushed to the spot after being alerted.
A visibly angry Vas immediately informed the police and also contacted officials from the government departments concerned, including the Health Department, seeking strict legal action against those involved in the illegal dumping.
Speaking to reporters, Vas said he had long suspected that untreated sewage was being dumped in the area. He pointed out that nearby agricultural fields had gradually turned into black sludge, while several farmers had complained of skin rashes on their feet and were unable to cultivate their land due to the contamination.
The MLA said he had been keeping a close watch on the area for several days, even patrolling nearby hills during late-night hours in an attempt to catch those responsible. However, despite his vigilance, the culprits had managed to evade detection until Friday evening.
According to Vas, the tanker driver admitted that he had visited the same location earlier in the morning and returned again in the evening to dump more sewage. Alert villagers noticed the tanker, intercepted it and immediately informed the MLA, who rushed to the site.
Vas alleged that the continuous dumping of sewage has severely polluted the area, with contaminated waste flowing downhill into agricultural fields and nearby water bodies.
He said the location, being isolated and surrounded by dense vegetation, had become an easy target for illegal dumping activities.
Expressing concern that the practice may have been continuing for several years, Vas alleged that some landowners could be accepting money from septic tanker operators to allow the dumping of sewage. He warned that those responsible would not be spared and vowed to ensure strict action against everyone involved.
