Margao civic body, Sewerage Corp under fire as various authorities scrutinise Sal pollution issue

Team Herald

MARGAO: Following public outrage over the contamination of River Sal with sewage discharged from the Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) at Navelim and the leaky sewerage network across Salcete,  the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa (SIDCL) and Margao Municipal Council (MMC) have come under fire, with various directions issued to them about how to plug the gaps in infrastructure provided, to tackle the sewage generated. 

After an inspection, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) recommended that the PWD and SIDCGL divert the wastewater flowing in the stormwater nullahs which eventually finds its way into the river Sal. 

The GSPCB team also directed the authorities to install the online effluent monitoring systems at the 20MLD and 6.7MLD STPs at Navelim. On the note, it recommended the interconnectivity of the 20MLD and 6.7MLD plants for sharing the load in case of emergency and those provisions be made for an additional DG set at the plant for electrical backup. 

The GSPCB will also direct the MMC, SIDCGL, PWD and the Director of Health Services to take stringent action against the units discharging domestic wastewater into the nullahs and to get the units connected to the sewerage system. Incidentally, similar directions were issued to MMC by the South Goa District Collector wherein the council was asked to find out the sources of sewage points and plug them immediately. 

In her inspection where various authorities including WRD and Health Department were present, South Goa District Collector Jyoti Kumar found as many as six storm water drains carrying raw sewage that poured out into River Sal. These included areas such as Ambaji, Old Market, Comba ring road, Khareband, Karelem and areas near the District Collectorate and District Hospital. 

 SIDCGL General Manager Prakash Pai was also asked to update the Collector about the progress of all the works being carried out in the jurisdiction of the MMC. These officials were also questioned during another high-level meeting that was chaired by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, who also held several inspections of the site, to find immediate solutions.