Team Herald

BICHOLIM: The North Goa Congress Committee on Wednesday inspected the Assonora water treatment plant and strongly opposed the new hotel project coming up close to the river. 

North Goa Congress Committee President Vijay Bhike, Bicholim Block President Meghasham Raut and others inspected the water treatment plant and questioned the officials over the muddy water sent to them from the plant. 

They asked whether the machinery in the treatment plant was outdated and whether they would have to continue drinking muddy water. The Congress members were angry over the fact that a hotel project was coming up very close to the river which, they said, would pollute the river. 

“The government has given permission to the hotel project which is not even 100 meters away from the river. This hotel has also got permission to let all the wastewater into the river. If this happens, then, all the people from North Goa would have to drink the wastewater let out from this hotel,” Meghasham Raut said. 

He questioned the wisdom of the government in giving sanctions to the project. “Government should answer the people as to how this permission was given. Not a single minister has spoken on the dirty water supplied to the people,” Raut said. 

He said that the government is not concerned about the people and is playing with the health of the people. “Dirty water that we are getting is just the beginning. Soon, we will get dirty water from the 245 room hotel that is coming up,” Raut claimed. 

Vijay Bhike stated that they had demanded a site inspection some eight days back as the problem lies with the Assonora treatment plant. 

On the occasion, Assistant Engineer S A Pednekar stated that most of the pumps at the plant are new. 

“We are facing problem in filtering the water from Tillari. So, we have taken the water from Amthane. Because of this we are facing shortage of water. There are some machinery for repairs but about seven pumps are installed which are brand new,” Pednekar said.