MARGAO: With no measures in place to stop the flow of sewage into the Saipem Lake at Navelim, which meets River Sal, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has called an important meeting of the core committee on February 23.
However, Antonio Alvares, who had filed a PIL in the High Court regarding the release of raw sewage into Saipem Lake, has expressed frustration over the flow of sewage into the rivulet heading towards the River Sal and in the fields and requested the concerned authorities, besides neighbouring panchayats, to initiate some action plan.
Manuel Barretto, Chief Officer, MMC has called a urgent meeting and has asked the representatives of Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL), Public Works Department (PWD) (Sewerage Department), Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and Health Officer of Urban Health Centre Margao to attend the same.
It may be recalled that earlier, Alvares had also called upon the Core Committee constituted with respect to Saipem lake contamination, to address all these concerns as the High Court had pulled up the authorities for discharge of sewage and waste water into the Saipem Lake and said it would not accept any further delays.
The HC had directed the SIDCGL and MMC to file affidavits indicating the timeline for completion of works.
Alvares told Herald that he has noticed several points in and around Margao, including Fatorda and Benaulim, from where the sewage continues to flow into the rivulet heading towards the River Sal.
“It has been also noticed that sewage continues to flow into the Saipem Lake and in the fields. There is an urgent need to stop it in order to avoid further pollution of the rivulets, the river and the fields,” he said.
