Team Herald
MARGAO: The impending commissioning of the Colva 7.5 Million Liters per Day (MLD) Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) has raised significant concerns among local residents and activists.
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Social activist Judith Almeida, who has been monitoring the project since a 2011 Public Interest Litigation (PIL), is calling for a comprehensive pre-commissioning audit. Her primary focus is on the underground sewage line’s structural integrity, especially considering Colva’s challenging low-lying terrain. Joint inspections have revealed critical vulnerabilities, including groundwater infiltration and potential pipeline contamination risks.
A July inspection exposed substantial flooding in low-lying areas, with rainwater penetrating open sewer connections. The Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) acknowledged that the current infrastructure is vulnerable to environmental infiltration.
This occurs due to incomplete house sewer connection work, leaving pipeline ends exposed and unconnected to the main sewer network and pumping stations.
SIDCGL however committed to comprehensive testing and implementing plugging measures after completing house connection work, before final system commissioning.
Almeida further explained how the underground lines connecting households and commercial establishments pose particular challenges.
Given Colva’s unique topographical characteristics, there’s a significant risk of soil and silt accumulation that could potentially reduce sewage chambers’ carrying capacity. This mirrors previous issues in Margao, where sewage chambers frequently overflowed during monsoon seasons.
An additional layer of complexity emerges from a Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) affidavit revealing that 26 commercial establishments are reportedly connected to the sewerage network. However, with the treatment plant not yet officially commissioned, questions linger about the current sewage treatment protocols.
Local Colva Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes supports a comprehensive audit before the plant’s commissioning, emphasising the need to thoroughly assess the situation and ensure residents’ safety.
The panchayat has received multiple complaints about substandard underground line work. Activist Simon Rodrigues has previously highlighted instances of pumping station overflows during monsoon periods, adding weight to the concerns.
Almeida warns against hasty commissioning, advocating for meticulous testing of each chamber and
ensuring proper house connection sealing.
She intends to file a PIL in the court, seeking detailed investigations into the sewerage line’s condition and sewage management protocols.
