MARGAO: Villagers of Benaulim have filed the intervention petition before the High Court of Bombay at Goa and urged to restrain the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL) and other concerned departments from discharging the treated sewage water from the Colva Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) into the River Sal, as the matter will be heard on Wednesday April 20.
Nearly 19 villagers have signed the intervention petition and they prayed for permission in order to intervene in the matter.
Villagers have also urged the Court for an order directing the SIDCGL and Director of Tourism to consider the requests of the applicants to find alternative uses of the treated water generated from the STP at Colva.
In the petition the villagers have further stated that their application is regarding the environmental damage caused in the village of Colva, particularly the Colva beach due to the non collection and improper disposal of garbage and waste, and discharge of sewage, besides water into the Colva creek.
SIDCGL has set up a sewage treatment plant at Colva beach to treat the sewage generated from the hotels and various other establishments around the Colva beach. The STP is a necessity and they do not oppose the setting up of the plant, however they are concerned with the fact that the treated water from the STP will be discharged into the River Sal, which is already polluted, further stated.
The villagers of Benaulim have made their intention clear that the said petition has been filed only in the interest of protecting the River Sal in Salcete.
The interveners stated that there is already an increase in the pollution in the River Sal and this has been quite detrimental to the aquatic life and the biodiversity of the River.
“Considering the river is already quite polluted, discharge of the water from the STP will cause further pollution in the River which will adversely affect its aquatic life and biodiversity which is facing a threat due to pollution from discharge of sewage,” said the interveners.
The interveners also submitted that local villagers of Benaulim, Orlim, Assolna, Varca, Carmona, Cavellosim are dependent on the River Sal for fishing and agricultural activities and if the pollution level increases due the this discharge from the STP pipeline then it will cause a loss of livelihood to the fishermen of these villages.
