It is common knowledge across the State, and has been for some years now, that the St Inez creek is polluted, and that the pollution is being caused by raw sewage being released into the creek’s waters and by passersby who fling garbage into the creek. The study by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on the creek’s pollution and the board’s subsequent report merely confirms something that is widely known. The only difference now is that it’s ‘official’.
The St Inez creek’s pollution is neither a new problem nor one discovered in recent times. This study is also not the first time that the GSPCB has carried out on the creek. Some months ago, on directions of the National Green Tribunal, a GSPCB study had found that the biochemical oxygen demand and the total coliform in the creek’s were not within permissible level, factors that indicated that there was significant sewage in the waters. This should have sounded the alarm. It didn’t and little has been done since then to contain the pollution.
The problem has existed for a couple of decades, growing exponentially following the developments – legal and illegal – that have arisen on either bank of the creek. The earlier GSPCB study had found that a residential complex along the creek, consisting of 150 flats and 13 row villas, had no sewerage connection and its septic tank and soak pit were overflowing. Besides causing pollution of the creek’s water, this is a health hazard that could lead to contamination of the ground water in Panjim.
The creek that originates in Taleigao, meanders its way through the State capital city, past some new starred hotels, office blocks, apartment buildings, residential heritage areas and the IFFI venue, before emptying itself into the River Mandovi, has been long neglected. Politicians, at the Municipal Corporation level and the State Assembly and cutting across party lines have promised to clean the creek but the promises have never been followed up upon. Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was MLA of Panjim for 20 years, but did precious little to clean this creek. If anything has been done for the creek, including cleaning a portion of it, it has been local citizen’s associations like Goa ForGiving that have taken up this issue consistently and created awareness of the creek’s pitiable state, drawing kudos from civil society for their efforts but little action from the authorities and the politicians.
And so, over the years the pollution levels in the creek rose and the stench permeating the area grew stronger. People averted their eyes from the floating debris on the water and wrinkled their noses in disgust. They continue to do so and the authorities chose to do the same.
Until now, after the pollution has risen to such levels that it is not possible to ignore it any longer, especially since the creek’s poor condition has become a matter of sustained reportage. Now, since what everybody knew has been ‘officially’ confirmed, the next and immediate step should be finding permanent solutions to this, and not temporary measures that will result in the creek’s pollution all over again after it has been cleared.
For this, the solutions should not be restricted to merely cleaning the waters of the creek but also ensuring that the cause of the pollution is not allowed to continue. The latest GSPCB report identifies the causes. What it now needs to do is eradicate these causes so that the creek is allowed to breathe again. Here, people too have a responsibility in ensuring that the creek does not get polluted. Those living along the path of the creek should ensure that their sewage is not discharged into the creek, that their garbage is not flung into the waters so as to be taken to the Mandovi by the currents. Neither the St Inez Creek, nor the River Mandovi are garbage dumps that citizens can use of to get rid of their waste.
A waterway such as the St Inez creek in any city would have been transformed into place for recreation, where boating, kayaking activities could have been held in the water and other events on the banks. This can still be done with the St Inez creek, making it a new tourist attraction and a place where the residents of Panjim can spend a few evening hours. But first, the creek should be cleaned.
