DO is one of the most important indicators of the quality of water and its availability is vital for aquatic life. For good quality water, the DO level should be more than 5 ppm.
In a meeting held Friday afternoon, the Board has decided to install 10 rigs in the St Inez creek, before the coming monsoon, which will help provide oxygen to the water so as to revive the aquatic life.
GSPCB chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said that this has been decided as a temporary measure to clean the St Inez creek. “At present the oxygen level in the water is very low, less than 5 ppm. There is no aquatic life present in the creek,”
he said.
The Board has also decided to direct the PWD to allow its treated water from the sewerage treatment plant (STP), located at Tonca, to flow into the creek. “This will create a flushing effect. PWD has been asked to make a letter to the Board seeking permission to allow STP treated water to flow into the creek,” Noronha said.
The preliminary study of the much-neglected creek carried out by the Board has highlighted siltation of the creek as a result of anthropogenic (human) activities. The observation also revealed that the creek is highly silted and there is lot of discharge of raw sewage into the creek along the entire stretch. Stagnation of water due to decomposition of organic matter was also reported.
The creek originates at Taleigao flows through Camrabhat, Tamddi Mati, Tonca and continues past the rear of the Military Hospital, Don Bosco High School and ESG complex, from where it empties itself into the River Mandovi.
Earlier this month, following a site inspection, a special meeting was held to discuss temporary measures to treat the St Inez creek. The meeting was attended by Panjim MLA Siddharth Kuncolienkar, Mayor Shubham Chodankar, PWD officials, environment expert Dr Joe D’Souza.
