Team Herald
MARGAO: The High Court (HC) of Bombay at Goa has directed government authorities to take immediate action against businesses polluting Salpem Lake in Navelim and the River Sal. The court has ordered the Deputy Collector of South Goa and the Salcete Mamlatdar to enforce the Goa State Pollution Control Board’s (GSPCB) directives and seal establishments violating environmental regulations without delay. The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has also been instructed to implement its closure orders, which had previously been ignored.
The intervention follows a report by Amicus Curiae Neha Shirodkar, appointed in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Navelim resident Professor Antonio Alvares. The report, based on an extensive survey of Margao’s water bodies and drainage channels, highlights rampant sewage discharge into stormwater nullahs and watercourses leading to Salpem Lake. Photographic evidence shows many businesses continue to release waste into public water systems despite prior notices and penalties.
The Amicus Curiae urged the court to direct authorities to conduct surprise inspections to prevent further violations. Additionally, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) was asked to make immediate temporary arrangements for proper sewage disposal at its retail market. The HC noted that if the SGPDA fails to comply within ten days, operations at the market should be suspended until effective measures are in place.
A visit by the Amicus Curiae and the petitioner earlier this year revealed severe pollution across multiple locations. At Khareband, water channels carried brackish and contaminated water, with multiple pipes from residential and commercial buildings discharging directly into the system. The SGPDA market was identified as another critical hotspot, with waste flowing unchecked into a stormwater drain along the Margao-Fatorda road. Similarly, the Margao Wholesale Fish Market was found to be unhygienic, with waste dumped at the edge of an adjoining water channel, emitting a strong stench.
The report documented heavy growth of water hyacinth in drains, floating debris, and stagnant contaminated water. Plastic waste was present in nearly every stormwater channel. A culvert near Kudchadkar Hospital was found diverting wastewater in two directions—one leading to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and the other emptying into agricultural fields, raising concerns about farmland contamination.
Inspections revealed that some businesses, despite previous undertakings of no sewage discharge, continued operations without improving waste management systems.
The Amicus Curiae highlighted the need for continuous monitoring and enforcement, urging the MMC and GSPCB to conduct follow-up inspections.
In response to the crisis, the HC directed the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) to submit a status report within four weeks on the progress of a dedicated sewage line connecting the SGPDA retail fish market to the underground network.
Despite some efforts, significant gaps remain in the waste disposal system at the SGPDA market. While meat stall operators have obtained consent from the GSPCB to continue operations, there is still no infrastructure linking the market to an underground sewage line. As a result, untreated waste continues to flow into stormwater drains, ultimately polluting River Sal.