As Goa entered into the election mode in January and political parties began releasing their manifestoes for the polls, most were silent or ambiguous on constructing sewage lines and sewage plants in the State. While the focus of the government has been on garbage treatment, which is also of extreme importance, facilities for the treatment of sewage has been left unattended. The question is why is no one talking of sewage and sewerage in Goa, though this is another issue that needs to be addressed urgently in the State.
Panjim is the only area in the State that has a proper and working sewage system. The Margao sewage system is still not fully complete and even in areas where the sewage pipeline has been laid, there are many buildings that are still to be connected to the system. Tourist hotspots of Calangute, Candolim, Colva, Benaulim, urbanized areas like Porvorim do not have a sewage system. The Government of India website infrastructure.gov.in states that sewage treatment plants for Margao, Mapusa and the North Coastal belt and pumping stations are still not complete. There is no date of completion given.
Take the instance of Margao that in the past few weeks has had three instances of sewage flowing through the gutters and overflowing septic tanks, leading to a stink of sewage permeating in the air. The sewage water has emerged from hotels, buildings and residential complexes overflowing from septic tanks and soak pits, with the blame laid on the Sewerage Department for the delay in getting the underground sewage system ready on time.
How does a government that boasts of getting awards for the best state allow its major urban areas to go without a sewage system? Early last year, the government in response to a PIL citing the release of raw sewage in open at various sites across Margao and Fatorda, the PWD had assured that the problem would be addressed by May with the completion of the first phase of the Sewerage Treatment Plant. However, this has from appearances not been done.
The existing Sewerage Treatment Plant, of 7.5 MLD capacity, has practically reached its saturation point. It’s now years that the town is awaiting the commissioning of the 6.75 MLD sewage treatment plant at Shirvodem, but with a new deadline being set periodically, there is little hope that the plant will start operations soon. Though the ground work of the plant has been completed it is awaiting power to start functioning. Underground sewage lines have been laid in areas, but this has not helped.
While that is the case of Margao, every morning, sewage tanks line up outside the Sewage Treatment Plant in Panjim, having collected sewage from various parts of the State and brought to be treated at the plant. Most of the sewage tanks have collected night soil from the Bardez coastal area that is dotted with hotels every few metres. The reliance on soak pits and septic tanks in this area needs to be eliminated, as while such a system is acceptable for small buildings and individual houses, it is not acceptable for the tourism industry.
The absence of sewage treatment plants and systems in the State for urban areas, and coastal areas that are akin to urban in nature, underlines the abject lack of planning by governments past and present. But this is a problem across the country and not just limited to Goa. Under the Swaach Bharat Abhiyan, there is a free toilet scheme but what is the use of a toilet without a sewage system in place. Whether all over India or just in Goa, a sewage system is the priority, and there cannot be delays in building the plants or getting them operational.
