MAPUSA: Waste and sewage is being discharged into River Chapora by W Hotel since more than a week, now. 

Chapora locals complain that the hotel is discharging waste and sewage every alternate day into River Chapora.

The discharged waste and swage has accumulated in a low lying land where it is polluting the environment and spewing up acrid stink. This has deterred the locals and tourists from even taking a stroll along the river bank.

Venancio Rodrigues, a Chapora youth, said, “There are no shacks at this particular stretch of beach, where swage is getting accumulated. Since there are no shacks here, this area was free of pollution. But the swage and waste from W Hotel, is seriously polluting the locality.” 

He claimed that the waste and swage discharged from the hotel contains chlorine, as such it will severely affect marine life.

“We do fishing here and if the hotel continues to discharge waste and sewage, then, we will have to give up fishing,” he said.

Michael, another local, said, “I will be writing to the Pollution Board, asking them to stop the hotel from discharging its waste and sewage into River Chapora. I will also ask the Pollution Board to state on what basis it gave permission to this hotel to play music late night. I will be sending letters to all authorities concerned. If needed, I will move the NGT against the hotel.”

Another local alleged that the Department of Archaeology and W Hotel are hand in glove, as such, the Department of Archaeology has not taken action against the hotel.

When contacted, the hotel’s Director of Marketing Communications Arjun said, “I have seen the video (of discharge of sewage) which has gone viral, but in the video, the source of water is not clearly visible.”

“Why will we do such a thing which is major spot for our own clients? We are projecting the greenery and landscape; and are equally responsible to protect the beach. Since we got license for this hotel with lot of hard work, we do not want to mess with it,” he added.