MARGAO: Shockingly even the untreated raw sewage is being released directly into the rivulet from the sewerage treatment plants (STP) installed at Sirvodem, Margao, as the nuisance story of sewage flowing into the open fields and nullah’s of Margao and Fatorda continues. More interesting is that so far there is no taker for the treated water in Goa.
Herald at its visit to two plants at Sirvodem—one 20 MLD managed by the Goa Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation and the other 6.7 MLD one managed by JICA—discovered that untreated sewage water being released directly into the rivulet, as a result, all stink and pollution.
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It also caught sight of raw sewage flowing in large quantity directly into the open nullahs and fields channelled to the River Sal at close to New District Hospital and South Goa District Collectorate Complex in Margao. Neither politicians nor the higher-ups of the government departments have initiated any action in order to avoid major health hazards in the locality.
Herald was denied entry at the STPs complex. “Nobody is allowed to enter inside the plant,” a worker said. However, Herald manages to inspect the complex from outside.
Herald noticed nearly four holes and a large quantity of raw sewage water flowing down into the rivulet from two plants leading towards the River Sal.
Further Herald visit to Margao and Fatorda also found that Sewage Corporation and the Public Works Department have channelled not only in nullah’s but also to the open fields directly from the chambers. One of the sites where sewages are released was next to the new district hospital. Another major sewage flow was noticed at the District Collectorate Complex.
The 6.7 MLD plant is a project aided by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and have adopted Cyclic Activated Sludge Technology (C-Tech) the process to treat sewage which is collected from parts of Margao city.
The 20 MLD plant includes a pumping station of wastage from nullah and Saipem Lake and disposal of Sewage from STP to Sal River Phase – 1 based on sequential Batch Reactor Technology to meet the discharge standards. However, the release of raw sewage still continues at Sirvodem, which was once denied by then PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar.
On the other hand present PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar is on the record stating it’s not true that this government has not taken the sewerage projects initiated by late Parrikar at Margao and Navelim to a logical conclusion. The works have been in progress and are being closely monitored in Margao. “We have set the deadline of December 2021 to complete the sewage works, including the laying and commissioning of the north mainline,” said Pauskar.
When Herald contacted the Executive Engineer of PWD Joaquim Fernandes regarding the observation on raw sewage discharge into the rivulet, he assured to inquiry into the matter. However, he denied that the sewage was being released without treatment from the plants handled by PWD and JICA.
He further said that the high water table factor is affecting the flow of sewage from the pipeline to the treatment plant. “As there is no taker for the treated water we manage to release it into the River,” he said.
According to EE Joaquim, initially, there was a plan to supply the treated water at Verna Industrial Estates for the purpose of gardening. However, this initiative stuck and did not get any push.
“We have a target to complete the ongoing work of North Mainline sewage project by May 2022, for which late Manohar Parrikar has laid down the foundation stone in 2017. This project is worth nearly Rs 100 crore”, he stated. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had proposed replacement of the entire north mainline, linking Fatorda to the sewerage treatment plant at Sirvodem as the existing line was found damaged at several places and was discharging sewage in the low-lying fields and water bodies.
Joaquim said there is a very poor response from the citizens in order to take sewage connections, which has created more problems in the functioning of the STPs. “Now, the department has planned to implement the scheme giving online facility to the citizens in order to take sewage connections for their households”, he informed.
