Team Herald
VASCO: In a startling revelation, a joint inspection by the officials of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Directorate of Health Services and the Chicalim Panchayat on Tuesday found that the Goa Airport at Dabolim was allegedly releasing “untreated sewage” into the natural spring at Assoi-Dongri.
After the inspection, sarpanch Kamla Prasad Yadav demanded stern action against the Goa Airport for polluting the natural spring by releasing sewage into it.
Yadav said the panchayat had received complaints from local residents about four to five years back that the natural spring in the area is being polluted and its water being contaminated due to release of sewage by the Goa Airport.
The sarpanch said following complaints the panchayat had written letters to the Goa Airport authorities to stop releasing sewage into the spring but the Airport authorities replied denying the same and instead put the blame on the Indian Navy. But the Airport authorities have now been proved wrong since during a joint site inspection, it was revealed that the Goa Airport was directly releasing untreated sewage into the spring. The entire episode has been video recorded, Yadav informed.
The sarpanch demanded that the Goa Airport should get its sewage treatment plant (STP) functioning or hold the contractor responsible. But they cannot release sewage into the natural spring and pollute it.
Ward panch Shailesh Mayekar said the entire ward has been affected and the residents have stopped using the water. The locals residents used to immerse Ganesh idols in the spring but have now stopped it.
When contacted, Chicalim panchayat secretary Amrit Sakhalkar said the joint inspection was carried out following a written complaint by a local resident from Assoi-Dongri demanding action against the Goa Airport authorities.
Sakhalkar said during joint inspection, it was found that untreated sewage water was released into the natural spring and added that the panchayat will soon get the report from the GSPCB officials who have collected the water samples.
He said the GSPCB report will be later placed in the panchayat meeting to decide the further course of action.
GSPCB official Liston Fernandes said the inspection was carried out following a notice received from the Chicalim panchayat.
He said it was found that sewage was released outside the STP of the Goa Airport. Stating that the Airport has the consent from the GSPCB, Fernandes said he had asked the Airport authorities to produce the consent copy so as to check its STP capacity. But the airport authorities did not produce it, he said adding that the GSPCB will now test the water samples.
