PANJIM: Observing that the much neglected St Inez creek is contaminated with sewage water discharged in it, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has directed the Health Department to immediately remove all the illegal sewage discharge lines of the residential as well as commercial dwellings located along the creek.
The Directorate of Health Service has been asked to prepare a detailed action plan in this regard within a fortnight failing which a legal action would be initiated against them for violations of the provisions of the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974.
As per the directions issued in the last week of February under Water Act, the Board has asked health department to ensure that the waste water from the residential and commercial dwellings is not discharged in the creek but rather discharged in the PWD sewerage or in septic tank or soak pit. “Also ensure that all illegal discharge lines as observed during the inspection are removed immediately,” the order reads.
“During the inspection carried out in December last year, it was observed that the creek is contaminated with sewage water starting from its originating point at Nagali Hills. The dwellings located along the creek, right from starting till it meets with the sea, discharge sewage water into the creek,” GSPCB chairman Jose Manual Noronha said adding that directions are been issued to around eight commercial establishments to close down their operations immediately.
The fresh inspection of the creek was carried out following directions from National Green Tribunal (NGT), Pune in an applications filed by activist Kashinat Shetye. NGT wanted to know the nature of pollution at the creek and the reasons behind it.
GSPCB, after an inspection in June-July 2014, had observed that the dissolved oxygen (DO) is almost nil in most of the points and less than 5ppm at the remaining points. There were no aquatic life, turbidity was high and there was a foul smell also.
