MARGAO: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a directive to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to ensure the consistent operation of
the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of the public toilet block in Colva beach parking area.
According to a notice from the GSPCB, an inspection report highlighted that the GTDC is operating the unit in violation of environmental regulations specified under Sections 33(A) and 25/26 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, leading to pollution in the surrounding area.
It may be recalled that earlier GSPCB had issued the notice to the toilet contractor, which had evoked criticism from complainant, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum’s (CCCF) Judith Almeida, who asserted that
GTDC should have been held responsible as they had issued the contract for the toilet block and had been negligent.
In the fresh notice to GTDC, GPSCB’s Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro, directed the Executive Engineer of the Project Cell at GTDC to verify that the treated effluent meets permissible limits outlined in the consent to operate. Additionally, GTDC has been instructed to prevent the release of raw sewage in the vicinity, with the warning of strict penalties under the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle for non-compliance.
The directive, issued under relevant sections of the Water Act, 1974, mandates GTDC officials to submit a compliance report to GSPCB within 15 days.
Dr Monteiro emphasized that failure to comply would result in legal action without further notice.
The notice from GSPCB highlighted that although the public toilet is in use, the STP was found non-operational during inspection. The inspection team noted that the STP area was locked and inaccessible for examination. Information gathered at the toilet’s pay counter revealed that the STP operates only for two hours at night, according to the GSCPCB’s inspection team.
Coastal watchdog, biodiversity board inspect Colva beach
MARGAO: Authorities from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) conducted an inspection in Colva to assess compliance with the demolition order issued on July 3, 2019, for the removal of illegal structures and the restoration of a sand dune.
Although the structures were removed from the sand dune, the complainant Judith Almeida from the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCF called for a detailed plan from the GSBB outlining their approach to restoring the sand dune and clearing remaining items from the site.
“It’s good that for the first time GCZMA has come for a compliance report. I also demand that all other structures be cleared in Colva and Sernabatim villages, in whose cases, the court has issued orders for demolition. They still stand tall only because PWD has no funds to demolish the same,” said Almeida.
