PANJIM: Admitting to the St Inez creek being polluted, in its preliminary report the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) wants a detailed survey of residents and establishments along the banks of the creek. According to the board, residents living along the creek’s banks are the main reason for the pollution.
The report has recommended measures for the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to undertake in the cleaning up of the creek, suggesting that the CCP map out the storm water layout along the entire stretch of the creek as well as from Altinho and Dona Paula to the Mandovi. As a means of keeping track of the amount of garbage being thrown into the creek, the CCP has also been given the task of creating a schedule of dates and times of garbage collection in the vicinity of the creek.
To the PWD, the report calls for efforts into finding the source of waste water generating from areas near Taj Vivanta and provide details of the proposed sewage lines.
Speaking about the report, GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said, “The team has taken in samples from different locations along the creek and are still in the process of analyzing it. These recommendations are made based on the general condition of the creek. Once the sample reports have been analyzed we will generate a detailed list of suggestions and directions to be taken.”
Noronha pointed to illegal settlements, sewage and garbage being the main reasons for the highly-polluted creek.
“It is certain that the creek is in bad condition and there are some reasons for this. The existence of dwellings along the side of the nullah is the main cause for the creek being so polluted. People passing along the entire stretch of the water body have the habit of throwing plastics they may have in their hands directly in to the creek,” he said.
“This is not only a bad habit but adds to the existing condition of dwellings polluting the water,” he added.
The team that worked on the report included representatives from the GSPCB, PWD, and the urban health centre.
