The cleanliness and beautification of the putrid Portuguese era St Inez creek is indeed a political-socio-economic problem, as rightly claimed by City Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues. Over a year, after the pollution authority report clearly indicated that the hutments, residential complexes and commercial establishments located along the creek were responsible for its contamination, the City Corporation and the Government in all, is laying low to act upon these violators. The hutments-majority of which are occupied by migrants- looked a strong vote bank by the councilors.
“I am frustrated in the last three and a half years as I am not able to do anything for cleanliness and beautification of the St Inez creek. It is a political-socio-economic problem and not a technical one,” Rodrigues said during the first council meeting of the new corporation, expressing his helplessness in resolving the long-pending issue. The Commissioner had urged the new Council to unanimously pass a resolution giving powers to the Corporation to act against the illegalities. However, the 30-members preferred to remain silent on the demand, during the meeting.
Clearly the political will is lacking. When asked, Lotlikar openly said that the hutments which are now even paying house tax, cannot be called illegal and demolished. “Where will those people go? You can rehabilitate them but not demolish. If the Corporation is willing to rehabilitate these hutments, which were located prior to 1991 CRZ notification, then I will extend my full support,” the Councilor, from the ruling panel said.
The Goa Rehabilitation Board (GRB) during their survey, nearly two years back, had identified nearly 71 shanties located along the bank of the creek for immediate rehabilitation, as they were involved in direct release of sewage into the creek water. Even today, the government is sitting with the report with shanties continuing to mushroom along the bank.
Councilor Dinesh Salgaocar, in whose Ward No 13- the hutments are located said that the council needs to be united to act against those releasing sewage into the creek. “Discharge of sewage and dumping of garbage is a prime issue for creek water pollution. The issue needs to be taken up on priority,” he said, adding, “Rather than just making it an election issue, councilors need to look at it as a social problem and need to resolve it accordingly.”
If this was not enough, following directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) conducted an inspection and indicated that a section of residential and commercial complexes have been polluting the water body right up to its originating point at Nagali Hill. The Board observed that residential dwellings have been discharging their sewage into the creek.
The Board had directed the PWD and CCP to act against these units, for discharge of sewage into the creek, despite having proper sewage connection. While proposing a penalty, the Board had recommended action against the shanties.
These recommendations too remained on paper, with both the authorities showing no interest. “These are voters of different councilors and so also of political parties. When we start to act, they approach the local councilor or MLA for relaxation. The shanties here are a vote bank and no councilor would like to act. They can only show off their concern,” a senior PWD official said, requesting anonymity.
