AVINASH TAVARES
MARGAO: The Goa Pollution Control Board has submitted an affidavit asking the National Green Tribunal to set aside a case filed by Cavelossim Villagers forum against two alleged illegal pipelines that were laid in the NDZ area of Cavellosim Village by a 5 Star Hotel. GSPCB appears to be content with the measures taken by the hotel. In its affidavit GSPCB states that the hotel is submitting monthly treated effluent monitoring data and it is within prescribed limits.
However, GSPDB also states that they had issued a consent letter wherein the hotel has to install a continuous online water quality monitoring system for the water being discharged from their lagoon or any other source within the hotel through the pipes emptying into the river and monitor for pH, TDS and BOD, but the system that has been installed measures only pH, temperature and conductivity. Interestingly, in July 2014 GSPCB had issued directions to the hotel to remove the pipelines immediately stating that the pipe has been laid without obtaining permission from GSPCB as required under Section 25/26 and that the pipelines are believed to be utilised by the hotel for discharging sewage and waste water into the river Sal thereby leading to pollution of the river. The directions were issued based on inspection carried out by GSPCB in May 2014. In the inspection report, the Environmental Engineers had reported that there were 5 precast RCC pipes of 1 M diameter leading from the Hotel and passing under the road to the other side. Shockingly, the reports states that the origin of the pipes could not be located since the pipe in underground.
Further, 2 more pipes were connected from the same point through a small bund upto the bank of the River Sal approximately 20 meters away. In October 2014, after receiving a response from the hotel, GSPCB once again issued the same direction asking them to remove the pipes within 7 days since the reply has been found unsatisfactory. These directions were once again issued in January 2016. Subsequently, due to BRICS the matter was put on the backburner. The hotel had received permission to fill the land next to the pipes to make place for parking for the BRICS event. In December 2017, the Cavellosim Villagers forum approached the NGT to direct the hotel to remove the pipes. “If the pipes were meant for storm water which is just for 4 months in a year, why did they not take permission?” questions Iris Passanha, President of Cavelossim Villagers Forum. “First GSPCB says they can’t find the origin of the pipes and that the water is polluted and therefore the hotel should remove the pipes. But then in court they say that the case may be set aside. The hotel has also violated CRZ laws so it’s not right that the GSPCB is asking the NGT to set the case aside. I wonder what made them say that.”, he said.
