More than a month after thousands of dead fish surfaced in Panjim’s Mala Lake, laying bare the deteriorating state of one of the city’s key water bodies, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday ordered fresh water quality testing and sought updates on action taken against households found discharg ing sewage into the lake. Hearing a suo motu public inter est litigation initiated in the wake of the large-scale fish deaths reported in April, the Court directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSP CB) to conduct fresh water testing of the lake and submit its findings at the next hearing. The Court also di rected the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to file an affidavit within a week detailing the status of seven houses located along the western bank of the lake whose waste outlets had been sealed shortly after the fish kill triggered public outrage.
During the hearing, the CCP informed the Court that ac tion had been initiated against 38 houses found discharg ing sewage directly or indirectly into the lake. According to the civic body, some homeowners have since constructed septic tanks, while others have applied for sewerage con nections with the Sewerage and Infrastructure Develop ment Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL). Around eight households are presently relying on public toilets as an interim arrangement. The Court directed all concerned authorities to ensure that the required corrective measures are completed with out delay, signalling its concern over the pace of compli ance despite the environmental damage already caused.
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The mass fish deaths, first reported in the last week of April, sparked widespread concern over unchecked sew age discharge, poor monitoring and years of neglect affect ing the lake ecosystem. The incident also raised questions about the effectiveness of urban wastewater management in the state capital, particularly in areas surrounding envi ronmentally sensitive water bodies. Following the incident, CCP officials carried out inspec tions of properties around the lake to verify sewage con nections and identify sources of contamination. The find ings led to action against dozens of households allegedly contributing to the pollution. Advocate Nigel Fernandes has been appointed amicus curiae to assist the Court in the matter. The case has been posted for further hearing on June 16, when the Court is expected to review the latest water quality report and the progress made in preventing sew age from entering the lake.
