PIL in court states contaminated water from market finds its way into field and river Sal
MARGAO
After the Sonsodo waste treatment site, the stinking SGDPA retail fish market has come under the scanner of the High Court.
When the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Navelim resident Prof Antonio Alvares on discharge of sewage water in the drains came up for hearing before the High Court on Monday, the petitioner drew attention of the Court to the pathetic state of affairs in the SGPDA fish market, saying the contaminated water flowing from the market find its way in the field and the adjoining river Sal.
In fact, Justice Bharat Deshpande is believed to have recounted his experience of his recent visit to the market and questioned the MMC over the prevailing conditions. Alvares said Justice Deshpande observed that people cannot enter the fish market, further observing that while footwear is being sold in air-conditioned shops, vegetables and fish is sold in such unhygienic conditions in the market.
Arguing in person, Alvares has pointed out that the pathetic state of affairs in the SGPDA retail fish market has contributed to the contamination of the water bodies and the river Sal.
During the hearing, the petitioner said the Margao Municipality has no detailed plan of the city’s underground drainage. When the MMC counsel pointed out that the GSUDA has appointed a consultant to prepare a master plan for the city, Alvares said the MMC along with GSUDA should expedite the Margao Drainage Network Plan.
He said the Court has set a two-month deadline to prepare the plan. “Presently, the MMC only has some Portuguese era plans. The MMC counsel had pleaded for four months to prepare the plan, but the Court has set the two-month time frame to prepare the drainage plan,” Alvares said.
Earlier, Adv Ashwin D Bhobe on behalf of the SIDCGL filed the status report, staying that out of 145 applications from PWD DIV XXI for release of house sewer connections 37 connection have been released. Further processing is kept on hold because of incessant rains.
Meanwhile, Justice Mahesh Sonak has instructed the petitioner Antonio Alvares to file a detailed report before the matter comes up at the next date of hearing.
The SGPDA retail market was in the news recently with dry waste piling up along the market surroundings, clogged drains overflowing turning the entire market complex an eyesore.
Alvares had knocked the doors of the High Court with a PIL in respect of the sewage and waste water from Margao city flowing into the picturesque Salpem lake, Navelim and the adjoining river Sal, seeking directions to the authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council to plug the sewage discharge from the city into the water bodies.
