Team Herald
PONDA: The once-pristine Curti nullah, a vital water source for agricultural communities downstream, has now degenerated into a dumping ground, locals allege. Choked with plastic, domestic and hotel waste, even animal carcasses, the nullah has become a major health hazard and environmental concern for residents of Curti and Ponda.
Originating at the Bethora Industrial Estate, the nullah flows through Curti-Khandepar Panchayat, into the Ponda Municipal Council jurisdiction, and finally empties into the Zuari River at Undir-Bandora, covering a distance of approximately 13 kilometres.
Local resident Mahesh Panshikar expressed deep concern over the current state of the nullah, which once supported local agriculture and daily life. “Two decades ago, it was clean and used for bathing, washing, and irrigating fields. Now, it carries black and green water and emits a foul stench. It’s filled with plastic, garbage, even dead animals and poultry waste,” he said.
According to Panshikar, internal springs that flow year-round feed into the main nullah, supplying a significant volume of water. However, pollution begins at the source: untreated chemical waste from industries in Bethora is allegedly released directly into the nullah basin. As the watercourse moves downstream, the situation worsens, with increasing population pressure and indiscriminate dumping by households and market vendors in Ponda City further contaminating the flow.
Farmers who once relied on the nullah for irrigation now refuse to use the polluted water, citing skin rashes and health issues. “Many have abandoned farming or left their lands fallow,” said Panshikar. “What was once a lifeline has now become a life-threatening stream.”
Locals are demanding immediate action to clean and restore the nullah, warning that if left unchecked, the environmental and public health consequences will only worsen. Panshikar added, “If the nullah is properly maintained, it can provide water throughout the year – for gardening, construction, even industrial use.”
Residents are calling on the authorities, Panchayat bodies, and environmental regulators to step in, clean the nullah, penalise illegal dumping, and implement long-term waste and water management strategies.
Locals allege that even night soil tankers have been spotted illegally empting sewage into the nullah.