PANJIM: In a bid to control pollution in River Mandovi, Goa State Pollution
Control Board (GSPCB) has directed 30 village panchayats (VPs) located along
the river banks to survey residential and commercial establishments situated
along the stretch involved in discharging sewage into the river or other source
of river water. GSPCB has warned it will initiate criminal prosecution against panchayats
that fail to act.
The Board has also directed
the panchayats to penalize those involved in littering in public places, which
is prohibited under the Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act 1996.
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GSPCB in an order issued
under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, has asked the panchayats
and Directorate of Health Services (DHS) to ensure that the residential and
commercial establishments make adequate arrangement for disposal of sewage such
as septic tanks and soak pits.
“An area wise detailed
survey of all residences, residential complexes and establishments along the
banks of the river Mandovi including creeks, streams or any other water body
emptying into the river having or not having discharge into river and provide
detailed list of such establishments and once the discharge points have been
identified, same to be immediately removed effectively and permanently,” the
order issued by GSPCB member secretary Levinson Martins states.
This includes the
Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) that has to identify and act upon
sewage connections discharging waste into the St Inez creek.
As reported earlier, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and GSPCB in
their study had declared River Mandovi to be the most polluted river in the State
due to high level of coliform bacteria in the river water mainly due to release
of raw sewage and rampant dumping of garbage.
Directing the panchayats to
submit a detailed village plan with regard to the layout of storm water drain
connected to the River, the Board has sought comprehensive report on the
directions within the next seven days. “The failure to comply with the
directions will compel the Board to initiate legal action as per the provisions
of the Water Act which include criminal prosecution without further notice,”
Martins said.
