Team Herald
MARGAO: Taking a serious note of the petition filed by the Cavelossim Villagers Forum pertaining to the alleged discharging of sewage water directly into the River Sal by a hotel in Cavelossim, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the concerned authorities to form a joint-committee to study the matter, and to take actions.
Upon which a joint-committee with the secretary, Environment Department as a nodal officer will be inspecting the site on May 24. Cavelossim Villagers Forum had also alleged about the violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations.
The NGT has directed to constitute a joint committee comprising the secretary, Environment Department; besides representatives of Water Resources Department (WRD) and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to look into the issue of better utilisation of rain water and disposal of treated effluent for secondary purposes, and to take an appropriate decision in the matter.
The NGT has also directed to hold a meeting within one month and a decision to be taken thereafter and further, instructed to file an action report by July 31.
A petition filed by the Cavelossim Villagers Forum was against laying of underground pipes from a hotel project, more than two metres below the road at a distance of more than 60 metres, leading to River Sal in No Development Zone, in violation of the CRZ Regulation, 2011.
It was alleged that the pipelines are discharging untreated sewage and waste water generated from the business activities of the project proponent (PP) – a hotel venture. Though, the State PCB directed removal of the said pipes, the same has not been removed. It is also alleged that the PP also filled up the area in Survey No 100/1 of village Cavelossim in the CRZ area for creation of parking space.
