SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: In a bid to revitalise River Mandovi, which is facing a serious pollution threat due to direct release of waste water cum sewerage from residential and commercial establishments located along its banks, various State government agencies have proposed a whopping Rs 800 crore action plan to make it pollution-free.
Government agencies like Public Works Department (Rs 8.72cr), Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (Rs 711.75cr), Directorate of Panchayats, Corporation of the City of Panaji (Rs 88cr) and Fisheries Department have proposed a series of schemes for Panjim and areas on the outskirts of capital city. The total cost comes to Rs 808.47 crore to be spent till September 2018.
National Green Tribunal (NGT), through its order dated July 21, directed the State government to put in place a time bound action plan to revitalise the river, based on pollution data made available by Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). The Board, during its 28 month monitoring of the river, observed that most of the parameters like dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen and turbidity, are mostly within the permissible limit, except for faecal coliform, which is relatively high, exceeding the prescribed limit.
Following this, Directorate of Health Services through primary health centres examined residential and commercial establishments on the banks of the river and observed the problem areas where “waste water was directly discharged into the river water”.
The problem areas identified along the northern bank are Porvorim, Reis Magos, Britona, Nerul, Candolim and Mayem, while on Southern banks they are Taleigao, Se Old Goa, Goltim-Divar, Corlim and Carambolim.
“In many areas, construction of soak pits is not possible due to space constraints and close proximity to river banks and also at certain locations the water table is high which may result in direct contamination of the river water from soak pits,” Directorate of Health observed.
Accordingly, the various departments proposed their schemes.
Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd has proposed a sewerage scheme for Taleigao, Dona Paula and Caranzalem areas, which include design, construction and commissioning of a 15 MLD capacity Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at an estimated cost of Rs 144.25 crore.
The corporation is planning to spend Rs 283.50 crore on a sewerage scheme for Porvorim and surrounding areas, which include seven villages of Salvador Do Mundo, Penha Da Franca, Succurro, Nerul, Pilerne, Reis Magos and Pomburpa.
Another Rs 284 crore sewerage scheme has been proposed for Old Goa and its surrounding areas covering Corlim, Kadamba Plateau and others. All the three projects are expected to be completed by May 2019.
Corporation of the City of Panaji, through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), has proposed development of St Inez creek at an estimated cost of Rs 88 crore. This will also include rejuvenation and development of sewerage management in the creek area under the Smart City project.
PWD has proposed a vacuum sewer scheme for Panjim, providing house-to-house connections for low-lying areas like Patto, Mala and St Inez, at a cost of Rs 8.72 crore.
Department of Fisheries has proposed the construction of a 20-seater toilet and waste water treatment plant of 40 KLD capacity at Malim jetty. The project will be on 50:50 fund sharing between the Centre and the State.
Directorate of Panchayats will be constructing bio-digestor toilets in the villages and residential complexes around the river for those who do not have toilet facilities and defecate in the open.
