MARGAO: Stating that the reply submitted to the show cause notice found to be non-satisfactory Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Wednesday directed the Public Works Department, Division 21, Murida, Fatorda to pay the penalty of Rs 1.8 crore immediately, with regard to releasing of sewage into the open fields behind KTC bus stand Margao.
GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro has issued the notice and warned that if the penalty is not paid the Board will initiate immediate action under section 30, 32, 33, and section 41 read with section 48 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 against the PWD.
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Herald had first exposed the PWD about the penalty imposed by the GSPCB with regard to negligence and polluting the open fields and River Sal.
Reportedly Dr Ashish Kamat had filed a complaint against the PWD stating that raw sewage was being released in the fields of Fatorda.
“With respect to the above-cited subject the Board is in receipt of your reply to the direction notice issued dated March 30, 2021, wherein you have stated that the said polluting leaking sewer manhole has been plugged on February 18, 2021. Subsequently, the Board officials have carried out an inspection of the site”, member secretary stated.
It may be noted that despite the show cause notice with regard to penalty PWD for the second time opened the manhole and released the sewage into the open fields.
Upon the complaint, PWD had closed the manhole for a few days and thereafter it was found open yet again. Recently, upon the inspection by the GSPCB officials, again it was exposed that the PWD continues to release the sewage into the open fields.
Meanwhile, few days back Deputy Collector of South Jyoti Kumari had also directed Salcete Mamlatdar to initiate the action against the PWD.
