Team Herald

MARGAO: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has disposed the petition of Savio Dias and has granted time to the sewerage department till May 30 to commission the sewerage treatment plant. The court has also set December 2017 time frame for the second STP to begin functioning.

The case filed by Savio Dias was against the illegal and unethical disposing of raw sewage in open in Margao and Fatorda areas. Request for immediate replacement of the North main sewage line has been made to stop sewage flowing in the open which has been contaminating River Sal.

Dias established that the Sewerage Department miserably failed to stop or control the raw sewerage release in Margao and Fatorda. At Maddel, Old Market, Comba, Khareband and Fatorda areas sewage is being openly released by the Sewerage Department into open drains and nullahs with no concern to the public health and well being. The sites are an open health hazards.

The failed promises and breached deadlines of the commissioning of STP at Shirvodem in Margao is an open truth. The petition however has now made it binding to start the plants on or before prescribed dates or face the flak of the court.