TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Teams from the Goa State Pollution Control Board, the Water Resources department, The Corporation of the City of Panaji and the Directorate of Health Services inspected the Panjim creek Tuesday on the orders of the National Green Tribunal.
“The inspection was ordered due to the case filed in the NGT. They have asked for an inspection. Samples have been taken,” Chairman Jose Noronha said.
An employee of the WRD, a doctor from the Health Services department, and engineers from the Corporation of the City of Panaji were present for the inspection.
The St Inez creek runs right from Dona Paula (Nagali) through Taleigao, till Kamrabhat, St Inez, Campal and then discharges into the Mandovi river, measuring about 3.3 kms. Measurements differ, with some saying that it is around 4 km long while others claim that it is at least 6 kms long till Nagali hills, where it then breaks up into two minor tributaries.
After the recent rise in the level of the creek water at St Inez – it had risen to around 30 cms below its embankments, while it had jumped its banks near the sewage plant at Tonca leading to flooding of the entire area.
According to sources after a 2009 High Court order, de-silting work was undertaken on the creek bed, right from Inox Cineplex to Gaunekar Hospital and all the silt had been deposited on land in the sewage treatment plant.
The CCP was directed to provide suitable land within 24 hours to dump the de-silted mud; however, as the proper and suitable land was not available, the mud was dumped on the STP land.
WRD officials said that at high tide at St Inez the water level is almost 3 mts deep, and at low tide it is between 1 to 1.5 mts.
However, what could be gathered is that there needs to be a proper body to coordinate among the various bodies as otherwise it is difficult to coordinate and clean the creek.
According the WRD, it can only take care of encroachments; but not take care of the pollution. The CCP is supposed to look after the cleaning as well the illegal constructions, while the Goa Pollution Control Board can check for pollution and disuse notices.
