Team Herald
MARGAO: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has set a March 31 deadline for all commercial establishments and households in Colva to connect to the newly commissioned 7.5 million litres per day (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Failure to meet this deadline will result in the disconnection of water supply, the CM warned during the plant’s inauguration on Thursday. Sawant emphasised the importance of compliance, stating that the government has invested Rs 56 crore in the project, which includes Rs 23 crore for the STP and Rs 33 crore for an 11-kilometre
sewerage network.
The plant currently operates with 19 domestic connections, while 35 commercial connections are in progress. The charges for connections range from Rs 5,000 for domestic users to Rs 1.5 lakh-Rs 2 lakh for commercial establishments. Apartments are charged Rs 3,000. Monthly sewerage fees will be 50% of the water bill for commercial users and 35% for domestic users, requiring only a copy of the water bill to apply.
Sawant also announced that treated water from the STP would be provided free of charge for gardening and construction purposes if users arrange their own transportation. Responding to concerns from Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira about the absence of tapping points for hotels, Sawant directed officials to install these facilities to enable easier access. A minimal fee for treated water may be introduced later, depending on
user response.
The Chief Minister instructed the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) to connect the Sulabh toilets in Colva to the STP and revealed plans to appoint a contractor for the facility’s maintenance for the next five years. He reiterated the government’s resolve to enforce connections wherever the sewerage facility is available, adding, “People must take the connections by the set deadline or face water disconnections.”
When asked about the STP’s capacity to serve the entire Benaulim constituency, Sawant clarified that it was primarily built to cater to Colva. However, he said, “If capacity remains underutilised, we will consider expanding the sewerage network to additional areas.”
Highlighting Goa’s progress in waste management, Sawant said the State will soon become the first in India to treat all forms of waste, including sewage, garbage, biomedical waste, e-waste, and hazardous waste. Goa already has several waste management facilities, and more sewage treatment plants are planned along the coastal belt from Calangute to Canacona, where high water tables make traditional soak pits ineffective. “With public cooperation, we can make Goa clean and green,” he added.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of ensuring optimal utilisation of the Colva STP, noting that any decisions to expand the network would depend on demand and available capacity. This approach, he said, aims to balance infrastructure development with environmental sustainability in Goa’s coastal areas.