MARGAO: In response to complaints filed by residents of Verna regarding the flow of sewage into low-lying areas during recent rains, a joint inspection was conducted on Monday involving the local panchayats and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Simultaneously, the Water Resources Department (WRD) began desilting the nullah on Tuesday.
The Verna village panchayat took action by clearing the garbage dumped along the highway on Tuesday. Additional measures were put in place, such as the installation of CCTV cameras, police patrols, and enhanced security. A fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on any person or agency found violating the no dumping of garbage rule.
The matter came to light when tiatr director and Verna resident Irineu Gonsalves wrote a letter to Nagoa Sarpanch Gabriel Fernandes, Verna Sarpanch Nazia D’Costa, and Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira on Sunday. Gonsalves urged them to address the issue and requested the involvement of relevant authorities to inspect the site along the bypass.
Gonsalves expressed his concerns in the letter, stating, “Cesspools of sewage from industrial/hotel waste are flowing into paddy fields along the Nagoa-Verna bypass road. The stagnant water has turned black and emits a foul smell. It has been over 10 days now. Initially, I thought the heavy rains over the past week may have caused accumulated garbage to drain into the fields.”
On Monday, the two panchayats, along with the Nuvem MLA, police, officials from the Primary Health Centre (PHC), and GSPCB representatives conducted an inspection of the area. The possibility of sewage being discharged into the nullahs was not ruled out during the inspection. Gonsalves alleged the presence of dead animal carcasses, chicken waste, faecal matter, sewage pipes directly connected to the nullahs, and suggested that sewage pipes from a government colony were being discharged into the nullah as well.
