TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A Corporation of the City of Panjim corporator, Bharati Heble, has written to the city mayor and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar calling for a levy of hefty fines on construction firms and others found littering the St Inez creek.
Heble also demanded action against illegal hutments and other encroachments along the creek, calling for demolition of these in a time-bound manner. She also accused the Sewage Department of pumping untreated sewage into the creek and demanded for directions to this department to stop doing the same.
She also pushed for regular inspections of the creek by CCP, Health Department and the Goa State Pollution Control Board to ensure that construction firms maintain healthy and hygienic standards in their under-construction buildings.
“You may be aware that the St Inez creek is presently in an extremely polluted and unhygienic state, full of plastic, garbage, debris, litter found dumped inside and stench emanating from it,” the corporator said, arguing that construction works are being carried out close to the creek and workers from these under-construction building keep dumping debris and other construction material inside the creek, obstructing the free flow of water.
“Houses located on the periphery of the creek lack toilet and sanitation facilities. These houses have built their toilets on the creek thereby contaminating its waters,” Heble says, alleging that action has been found wanting by the CCP against complaints of illegalities and the legal process was slow and tardy.
She blamed a lack of lack of co-ordination between different Government authorities and agencies and or reluctance on the part of Government officials to take tough measures.
The corporator has now called for acquiring land adjoining the creek and rehabilitation of legal houses and hutments next to it on a war-footing. She also made a demand for provision of toilets and proper sanitation facilities to dwellings abutting the creek.
