Team Herald
MARGAO: The issues of the contamination of Saipem lake at Navelim and discharge of sewage into River Sal were discussed at length during a meeting of the core committee held in the chambers of Margao Municipal Council’s (MMC) Chief Officer Manuel Barretto on Thursday.
Besides Antonio Alvares, the petitioner in the High Court (HC), representatives of the Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited (SIDCGL), PWD’s Sewerage Department, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Health Department present for the meeting.
“Minutes of this meeting along with status of works completed so far will be submitted to the HC,” said Barretto. Speaking about pending works, Barretto said that PWD’s work of laying a sewerage pipeline has been sanctioned and would be initiated soon. Post that, Barretto said they would focus on getting polluters to connect their houses or buildings to the sewerage network so that all septic waste goes directly into the Sewage Treat Plant (STP).
However, the HC petitioner Alvares was not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and said he would have his say at the HC at the next hearing, which is scheduled in March. He added that the core committee that had been formed by the MMC was not as per the HC’s instructions and that he would seek a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary.
Alvares said that besides taking action against places that still release sewage into the River Sal, like the shanties, there is also the issue of making the land around Saipem cultivable again.
Alvares added that for this the nullahs would have to be restored but in the interim period, he said he asked the GSBCP officials to conduct soil testing.
—
Efforts on to stop sewage flowing into nullahs: MMC to PM’s Office
MARGAO: In response to a complaint filed by Anjay Dessai with the Prime Minister’s office (PMO), Margao Municipal Council’s (MMC) Chief Officer Manuel Barretto stated that they were taking all efforts to stop the flow of sewage into the nullahs in order to stop the pollution of River Sal.
The non-functioning sewerage line of the sewerage chamber and absence of a proper sewerage network were cited as reasons for sewage flowing into the nullahs. The council added that they are inspecting the discharge of waste water from households and commercial establishments, issuing notices to violators and directing them to take sewerage connections.
