MARGAO: The Bombay High Court (HC) at Goa, on Tuesday, directed the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to submit their respective compliance reports by April 3, 2024, regarding the discharge of raw sewage into stormwater drains in Margao, which ultimately flow into River Sal and Saipem Lake in Navelim, expressing concern over the ‘serious health hazard’
MMC’s counsel Adv Somnath Karpe, assured the court that by Wednesday, MMC would correspond with the PWD, Work Division-XXI, regarding the identified manhole chambers, as highlighted in the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) report dated January 3.
The Advocate General (AG) mentioned that upon receipt of communication from MMC, officials from PWD, along with MMC officials, would inspect the site and decide on further action.
Karpe also revealed that from an inspection carried out by the MMC officials, they have found that an alarming number of 149 households and commercial establishments are releasing sewage directly into the drains from where it goes into the nullah and eventually into the fields/lakes.
The petitioner, Antonio Alvares informed the court that all this leads into the River Sal.
However, this position was disputed by Karpe.
Karpe added that show-cause notices have been issued to these households and commercial establishments and these show-cause notices will be disposed of within the next 15 days.
“The show-cause notices must be disposed of within 15 days. Releasing untreated sewage into public drains or sewers, is a serious matter and the same will have to be dealt with by the MMC with utmost seriousness. Such release of sewerage apart from occasioning nuisance, also constitutes a serious health hazard”, said the HC bench comprising Justices M S Sonak and Bharat P Deshpande.
Karpe states that copies of these show-cause notices have also been marked to the GSPCB. “GSPCB must also consider action against commercial establishments that are allegedly involved in the discharge of sewage into drains and fields,” the bench added.
Adv Pavithran AV, representing GSPCB, assured the court that the sample testing reports would be submitted with the Registry on Tuesday itself. He added that copies would be furnished to MMC and the Petitioner and that these reports would indicate that contaminated sewerage is indeed being released. The case was adjourned to April 3.
