Panaji: Multi-storey apartments in Caranzalem have become a nuisance for fishermen and the nearby farmers as they claim that the sewage from most of these buildings are disposed either into the sea or fields. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has made it mandatory to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) for housing projects with 24 or more flats, falling which they would not be granted construction licences/consents. However, the norm seems to be compromised by the builders and also the licensing authority as most of the sewage is being disposed of into the sea or fields through the drain constructed for storm water.
One of the best examples in Caranzalem is Gera Astoria which has been granted permission by the authorities on the basis of the sewage treatment plant proposed by the builder but it doesn’t seem to be functioning the way it should. Gera Astoria, owned by Gera Developers Pvt. Ltd has become notorious for its bad sewage system, thus creating problems not only for the residents but also the locals of Caranzalem.
One of the locals, Gloria Pio, who is also a traditional fisherwoman said, “Now in the monsoons, Gera is disposing their sewage into the gutters along with the running rain water, which finally ends up in the fields. As a solution to this, they are connecting their drain to another one alongside the road which will see the sewage merge with the rain water and flow out into sea.”
She also said, “It’s not only Gera, but also Models Mystique of Caranzalem which disposes their sewage into the sea through the storm drain. Storm drains are constructed to remove water collected due to rain, not for sewage.”
The agitated villagers have been lodging a number of complaints to the CCP and District Magistrate but action has not been initiated by the authorities. One of the local also claimed that CCP Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues himself is involved in these illegalities. He said, “When I went to the CCP Commissioner, he said do whatever you want, I’ll see who stops him (Gera) from connecting his drain to the main storm drain.”
Commenting on the on-going issue, Rohit Gera, Managing Director, Gera developments said, “The work of connecting Gera Astoria’s storm water drain to the CCP drain is being done under the orders of the High Court and as directed by the CCP. The connection is being done only for the storm water drains. There seems to be some misunderstanding that raw sewage will be discharged in the drain. This is totally untrue. The complex comprising of 224 apartments has a sewage treatment plant since inception. There are residents living for years with this existing sewage treatment plant.”
He further added, “We check the quality of the treated water on a monthly basis through a government approved lab and we have the test reports for the same. This clearly indicates that the sewage is properly treated within the premises itself. The residents have had a harrowing time during the rains last year and this connection is necessary from a safety perspective.”
Earlier this week, residents of the area took the matter in their hands considering the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities. They gathered around and began to start filling the perpetually dug up roads around their residences so as to ease traffic and lessen their hardship.
On 19th August 2009, the North Goa Planning and Development Authority had issued a ‘final notice’ to Gera Developers Pvt. Ltd instructing them to demolish the construction of a mega-storey apartment complex at Caranzalem claiming it to be ‘illegal’. The notice clearly stated, “You are directed to demolish/remove the said illegal development within 30 days from the receipt of the notice, failing which the authorities shall cause demolition/removal of the same.”
However after 6 years, the same construction has turned out to be a luxurious apartment complex, having more than 300 flats; but no one knows how.
As per the notice, Gera Astoria owned by Gera Developers Pvt. Ltd in Borchem Bhat, Caranzalem has failed to obtain prior permission from the said authority as required under section 44 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, thus making the structure illegal.
However a month after the notice was issued to demolish the construction, the project work was in full swing, which incensed the locals as the contractor was filling the paddy field on which the building stands today. The locals had written to the CCP Commissioner complaining about the illegalities. But again no action was taken.
