Team Herald
VASCO: Concerns have been raised about the high level of contamination of the natural spring at Bondebhat, Sancoale.
The fact that sewage water is mixing with the spring water has led to locals urging the authorities to restore the spring back to its original condition for the future generation.
Paulo Fernandes from Sancoale, said that he along with other villagers from their ward, were disturbed by the foul stench emanating from the spring. To check out what had happened, they had climbed the hill to have a better view and that is when they discovered that the source of the spring itself was polluted.
The locals added that if the starting point of the spring is mixed with sewage, the contamination will spread throughout the spring water.
Fernandes added that he has already written about this to the Panchayat, Primary Health Centre (PHC), Mormugao Deputy Collector and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA).
“We won’t tolerate such nuisance towards our biodiversity and government authorities will have to take cognizance of this serious issue,” Fernandes opined.
Another local Paulina Azavedo recalled that people have been using that water for bath for several years, as they believe it has medicinal values. Besides this, she added that there are a few houses, which do not have a tap connection and are solely dependent on the spring for water.
“Where will these people get fresh water from, if this spring is contaminated,” she added, while calling on the authorities to find out and plug the point of sewage flow.
Senior citizen Rosy Fernandes lamented that there was a time when the spring was used for daily consumption of water for generations and how the same has now been neglected.
On this note, the locals in their complaint have highlighted that it’s a heritage spring that has been existing for centuries.
“This spring replenishes drinking water of three wells and is also a source of underground water for the trees and vegetation on the hillside and the same water flows into River Zuari,” said the villagers in their complaint, while adding how people use it in the summer as well.
They further noted that on December 4, at 9 am, they had noticed a person playing mischief by releasing what they suspect was sewage water, from the top of the hill, into the source of the spring water, which in turn has contaminated the wells in the Sancoale area.
Acting on this complaint, a local panch had inspected the source of the spring and confirmed that the same had been polluted with sewage. The panch referred to the complaints filed to the authorities and that along with the Health Officer of the PHC will carry out a joint inspection and take necessary action.
The Health Officer also stated that if any natural spring is getting polluted and people are getting affected, then he will take up this issue on an urgent basis and will immediately inspect the site.
The locals added that the police have assured them of taking action as well.
To the GCZMA, locals pointed out that the water from the spring, eventually flows into River Zuari and that the same contaminated water can affect marine life in the river as well.
“You are also aware that the area is a biodiversity hot spot, having the endangered window pane oysters among other rare marine life,” the letter adds.
