Team Herald
MARGAO: The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed authorities to take immediate action on sewage contamination in River Sal and Salpem Lake, even as Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar laid the foundation stone for a Rs 5 crore rejuvenation and beautification project for the lake on Tuesday.
During the hearing on Tuesday, petitioner Antonio Alvares appeared via video conferencing, reiterating concerns about continued pollution. Amicus Curiae Neha Shirodkar, who had conducted an inspection of multiple locations in Margao, submitted a short report highlighting ongoing violations. The court directed all respondents to examine the report and take necessary action, ordering them to file an action-taken report before the next hearing on March 12. The Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL) was granted four weeks to submit its report. Meanwhile, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) informed the court that the construction of a soak pit was underway and would be completed in 15 days, with a status report to follow. The Water Resources Department (WRD), recently added as a respondent, was also instructed to submit a report on the condition of nullahs within four weeks.
Amicus Curiae Adv Gauravardhan objected to the delay by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in sealing approximately 40 establishments responsible for sewage discharge. In response, Justice Makarand Karnik ordered the immediate sealing of these establishments, directing the Mamlatdar and the South Goa District Collector to execute the action, with the GSPCB required to submit a report at the next hearing.
Despite being a respondent in the case for over a year, the Navelim village panchayat has yet to file its reply, a matter that remains pending before the court.
At the site, independent of court proceedings, MLA Ulhas Tuenkar initiated the rejuvenation and beautification project for Salpem Lake, aiming to address the persistent pollution affecting local water bodies.
He assured that he would collaborate with the sewage department to find a permanent solution to the issue of raw sewage discharge into the nullah and the lake. Responding to concerns raised by local farmers, Tuenkar urged them to meet with senior WRD engineers and instructed the department to assist in resolving their grievances.