MAPUSA: Criticising the proposed Action Plan Report on Assonora River prepared by the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) in March 2019, Goencho Avaaz alleged that it is nothing but a naked act of demonstrating abuse of power by the authorities.
Goencho Avaaz further that this move is a perfect example of crony capitalism risking the life of public to help the corporate or private companies.
The NGO has also submitted its objections and suggestions to the Chief Secretary as well as the MLAs of Bardez, Green Tribunal and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India.
After studying the report, the NGO opines that it clearly suggests the deception of the authorities and refusal to act honestly in reversing the pollution of the Assonora River, the water of which is supplied to the entire Bardez taluka as potable water. The report clearly suggests the ulterior motive on the part of the concerned authorities and refusal to act honestly in reversing the pollution of the Assonora River and restoring it to safe limits.
In the suggestion and objection letter, Goencho Avaaz has pointed out that the entire report is completely silent on the huge 244-room hotel project spread across 45,000+ sq mts of area being constructed right adjacent to the Assonora River just besides the sampling point in Moitem. There is not even a word mentioned in this report about the said mega hotel project belonging to an industrialist, which is being constructed on the banks of Assonora River and just upstream of the Assonora Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Moitem, as if the huge buildings had totally disappeared during their so-called physical surveys in January and February 2019.
Co-convenor of Goencho Avaaz, Captain Viriato pointed out that their report casually points out the following ‘Assonora River is the source of drinking water for Assonora and surrounding areas of the state of Goa through Water Treatment Plant built on Assonora River’.
He goes on to explain that this report doesn’t tell the fact that the water from this river is important to the entire population of Bardez taluka.
“It is not just Assonora and surrounding areas which are dependent on this river for its water as mentioned in the report. The 92 MLD Assonora WTP extracts source water from this now polluted river and feeds it to the entire Bardez taluka as potable water risking the life and health of the entire population of Bardez taluka estimated to be over 3 lakh people,” said Viriato.
Another co-convenor Swapnesh Shelekar alleged that the Action Plan Report has been prepared arbitrarily and haphazardly with broad root causes identified and superficial corrective actions proposed by the RRC.
“It is amply clear that hereafter the concerned authorities will never report any pollution of the Assonora River no matter how severely polluted the river may be, just to help their capitalist friends in doing business. Everyone is aware that the CPCB has classified the Assonora River (stretch from Assonora to Sirsaim) as polluted under Priority V and therefore in no way can be used for drinking purposes,” Swapnesh added.
