TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The increasing number of mega projects is worrying not just civil society groups but even those within government with Environment Minister Alina Saldanha expressing concern over the large number of housing projects coming up in just one South Goa village.
Speaking at a function on ‘Water scarcity and its sustainable utility for Goa’, at Clube Vasco da Gama Friday, Saldanha expressed concern about the water situation in the state especially with so many apartments coming up.
“We are shocked by the number of mega projects in this South Goa village with 100 flats and more that are coming up. We love everybody but there’s a point when we have to say no. Would we have water to give all these people?” Saldanha asked.
She said that problem was getting worse by the day. “Come, here enjoy our land, but don’t stay,” Alina said to the outsiders.
Dr José Noronha the chairman of the pollution control board, who was the guest of honour elucidated Goa’s water pollution problem.
He said that the water table in Goa was contaminated with faecal coliform and E coli bacteria, way beyond the mandatory benchmark.
“In Verna Industrial Estate the fecal coliform and E coli bacteria levels are way beyond the benchmarks,” Noronha said adding that it was possible that in other areas groundwater was contaminated as well.
The function organised by the Clube Vasco da Gama saw presentations on the water situation in Goa from former principal PWD chief engineer Anand Wachasundar and talks on the need to preserve water for the future generations.
