Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has directed all the village panchayats and primary health centers (PHCs), along the stretch of River Mandovi, to inspect and prepare list of the residential houses and commercial establishments, located along the bank of river for their mode of disposal of waste water.
The Board during its Mandovi river inspection covering the stretch from Panjim to Marcel conducted in March, had noted that maximum number of residential houses located along the bank of river has an outlet to discharge the waste water in the river.
The stretch covered the panchayats of Betqui-Candola, Marcel-Tivrem-Orgao, St Estevam, Old Goa and Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP). PWD’s sewage treatment plants (STP) at Patto and Tonca were also inspected by GSPCB.
During the inspection, residential houses and commercial establishments located in these VPs were found to have been discharging the waste water into the river.
“We direct the concerned VPs and PHCs to inspect verify and prepare a list of all the residential houses and commercial establishments, stretch-wise located along the bank of river and their mode of disposal of waste water,” the Board said.
The VPs and PHCs have also been directed to initiate necessary action against all the violators.
The commercial establishments located along the bank of river within the jurisdiction of CCP were also inspected. However, the Board did not come across any direct discharge of waste water by these units in the river.
The operation of off shore casinos were also monitored and it was noted that the waste water generated in all the casino vessels is collected into their respective holding tanks and the same is then unloaded into the sewage vessel in the presence of officials of Captain of Ports and GSPCB. The same is thereafter transferred into the night soil tankers at the jetty for eventual disposal at the STP, Tonca.
During the inspection, Board came across few establishments and boat cruises, which were found operational without Consent to Operate from them. These units will now be directed to apply for consent.
