MARGAO
A day after politicians sparred over the discharge of raw sewage from the Margao sewage treatment plant (STP) into Sal, contaminating the river, PWD officials were on the job to put a system in place to plug the sewage flows into the river.
The moot question, however, remains unanswered “ will contamination of river Sal by the raw sewage stop once the STP's exit routes are plugged?
For an answer, welcome to the commercial capital, where stormwater nullahs carrying the city’s raw sewage and wastewater into the river Sal is the order of the day.
While a system is being put in place at the Margao STP after PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral rushed to the plant following Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas's uproar over the sewage discharge into the river, a host of questions will certainly come to stare at the powers that be and the administrators “ how would the government agencies, including the PWD, put a stop to the non-stop and almost 24x7 sewage discharge into the river by the stormwater nullahs? Has the PWD or for that matter the sewerage infrastructure development corporation any action plan to put a system in place to plug the stormwater nullahs from discharging the raw sewage into the river?
None other than Cabral is aware of the ground reality that around half-a-dozen stormwater nullahs are emptying raw sewage into river Sal around the clock. As Minister for Environment, Cabral had descended on the banks of river Sal over a year ago, only to find the nullahs carrying more raw sewage than rainwater into the river. With Cabral now presiding over the PWD portfolio, he only says he has got the contractors to expedite the sewage works started in the city over a decade ago and progressing at a snail’s pace.
Even a short-term solution does not seem to have been put in place to plug the stormwater nullahs from discharging the raw sewage.
The Comba stormwater nullah is a case in point. Raw sewage water has been gushing out from the broken sewage chamber for over a year now. Travellers on the Comba ring road would bear testimony to the foul odour emanating from the stormwater nullah as the broken chamber is not connected to the main line.
Hopes were raised after Cabral took over the reins of the PWD portfolio after the 2022 Assembly elections that raw sewage discharge from the broken sewage chamber would be a thing of the past after the PWD laid a line, to connect the chamber to the main line. Sadly, raw sewage continues to flow from the damaged sewage chamber 24x7 into the stormwater nullah, which finds its way into river Sal.
Another case in point is the stormwater nullah emptying raw sewage at the Old market circle 24x7. Just a halt at the Old market traffic would reveal the extent of raw sewage water flowing into the stormwater nullah, which finally finds its way into the river Sal.
A year ago, the Water Resources Department conducted inspections of the city’s stormwater nullahs, only to find out that almost all these water channels were carrying raw sewage water into the river Sal.
Cabral in hot seat over raw sewage discharge
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
When the media questioned Nilesh Cabral whether punitive action will be initiated against the officials and staff responsible for discharging untreated sewage from the Margao sewage treatment plant into river Sal, the PWD Minister was quick to reply that he has asked for a detailed report, and action will follow against the erring officials.
The PWD Minister, who also holds the Environment portfolio, may have to grapple with a similar question “ whether he has any plans to initiate action against those responsible for discharging the city’s raw sewage into river Sal at half-a-dozen places, right from Davondem to Khareband.
Cabral may find itself in a tight situation as he presides over the PWD and Environment portfolios. For, if agencies such as the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) under the Environment department, invokes the Polluter Pays Principle, the Goa Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation and the PWD, both agencies under Cabral, will have to be taken to task for the environmental degradation caused by the raw sewage discharge in river Sal.
Time to take to streets for solution to crisis: SCM
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The Shadow Council for Margao has said it’s time that the people of all three constituencies, through which river Sal flows, come on the streets and strongly agitate demanding an immediate solution.
SCM convenor Savio Coutinho stated: "It has been several years that the Shadow Council for Margao has been raising the issue of raw sewage being left to flow into river Sal."
“We even held a protest to point out the huge wastage of public funds amounting to Rs 200 crore, in desilting of river Sal, without plugging the sources of pollution of the river," he said.
Coutinho has demanded to know whether the Margao MLA ever during his tenure, raised any concern any time during the last 28 years, about raw sewage flowing into river Sal, which is the lifeline of Salcete.
“There is no doubt whatsoever that river Sal is dying due to the pollution by the flow of the city's sewage, but the Margao MLA instead of laying stress on providing a leakage-proof sewerage network system, is working overtime to construct a sewage channel in the form of nullahs," Coutinho lamented.
He added: "If at all any bare minimum improvement is taking place on the sewage treatment and disposal, then it is purely on account of various petitions and complaints filed by individuals and NGOs,” Coutinho said.
