the goan I network
MARGAO
Time seems running out for the government to take a call on the ticklish question whether to discharge the treated sewage water from the proposed Colva sewerage treatment plant in the Arabian sea or work out an alternate sewage waste disposal mechanism as the High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd to expedite work on the sewage treatment plant.
In fact, the High Court has granted one year’s time to the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd to set up the sewage treatment plant and thereafter report compliance.
When The Goan asked PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao to shed light whether any alternate sewage disposal mechanism is being considered by the government with local residents opposing discharge of the treated sewage water in the sea, the duo only said the government is on the job to come out with a solution to redress the grievances of the villagers. “We cannot unveil the alternate plan which the government is working out to resolve the issue of treated sewage waste from the Colva sewage plant,” Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao said.
Sources said discussions are underway whether to supply the treated sewage water to the starred hotels dotting Salcete’s coastal belt via a dedicated line for the purpose of gardening.
Time, however, seemed running out for the government with the High Court directing the Sewage Corporation to expedite the setting up of the sewage treatment plant. That the High Court meant business was evident by the fact that the court made it clear that the restraint order imposed by the Colva panchayat by way of stop work order stands vacated on grounds there was nothing on record to indicate that the panchayat had disposed of the show cause notices.
That’s not all. While directing the Sewage Corporation to expedite setting up of the Colva sewage treatment plant, the High Court has further direct all other authorities to consider the applications that may be filed by this Corporation for setting up of the sewage treatment plant on priority basis. “Such applications should be disposed of by all other authorities within a maximum period of 15 days from the date on which the same are made unless, for really justifiable reasons some additional time is required,” the High Court further directed.
Colva villagers, including the local MLA Churchill Alemao, have been up in arms over the proposed sewerage treatment plant that has been built near the football grounds on grounds that discharge of the treated water will spell doom for tourism at the world famous Colva beach. They pointed out that while the Union government has on one hand declared Colva as an iconic beach, discharge of the treated sewage water in the sea would drive away thousands, if not lakhs of visitors, from stepping on the silver sands, known the world over.
The villagers had also opposed the sewage treatment plant on grounds that the 7.5 MLD will not only treat the sewage generated from Colva village, but will play host to sewage from Salcete’s coastal belt, fearing that any malfunctioning of the plant due to overload and technical snag may spell doom for the tourism industry.
