Clinton D’Souza
TALEIGAO Today once again the St. Inez creek issue is back in the headlines. The entire St. Inez creek is polluted, the water is contaminated, the flow of the water is stopped and the well of waste and sewage released in this creek has increased. This has resulted in water entering the fields and destroying the fields of Taleigao
Locals from Panjim and Taleigao have been raising this issue for the past several years, they submitted numerous demands and memorandums to the authorities but they were sent back with assurance but till date, the St. Inez creek has seen no concrete solution to get it cleaned or restored.
Speaking to Herald President of Taleigao Farmers Club Xavier Almeida, said that “Authorities are planning the Smart City project but St. Inez creek hasn’t seen any smart move yet to get cleaned, the state of this creek is getting worst day by day. Today even the farmers are getting affected, the polluted water has resulted in destruction of the fields especially in Taleigao”. Xavier also said that they are planning to knock the doors of the court to find a solution towards this menace of the beautiful St. Inez creek.
The farmers are in tears especially from Taliegao as the dirty polluted water has entered their fields, their crops are destroyed while at some places the farmers are finding it difficult to cultivate because of skin allergies and issues due to the pollution.
One of the local farmer Ulhas Navlekar alleged that the authorities especially the elected representatives have turned a blind eye towards the farmer’s issue. “Authorities aren’t concerned about the farmers, they are more focussed on real estate, if they were with us then today we wouldn’t cry”.
While on the other hand, another farmer Shekhar Shirodkar from Taleigao said within 2 to 3 days of rainfall, their fields get submerged, while earlier, even after continuous pour for week the water wouldn’t remain back. “Today the authorities should close the mouth of the water from where the water enters the fields, we have demanded several joint inspections to identify the cause of flooding and polluted water of the creek entering our fields but the authorities have never heard our request”, said Shirodkar.
Xavier Almeida points out that earlier the clear waters of the creek sustained rich biodiversity and served as a lush buffer zone. But today in 2021, even a pedestrian will not be comfortable walking along the stretch of this creek. The City of Panjim which wanted to be SMART with a ticket price of almost Rs 2000 crore, has managed to get some smart money, used and spent by some smart people. But the jewel of Goa, its capital, remains in a pitiable, pathetic state. The Centre decided that Panjim would be made into a SMART CITY. The people of Panjim also need the accounts for the Rs 20 crore for St Inez creek, Rs 20 crore for e-governance, Rs 100 crore for Bainguinim Treatment Plant”.
While contacted the Deputy Mayor of CCP, Vasant Agshikar about this issue, said “Rs 180 crore have been marked for the St. Inez creek in the Smart City project, this amount will cover the cost of restoration and rejuvenation of the St. Inez Creek, once this is completed all problems will come to an end”.
Notwithstanding this, this assurance seems a lot like so many similar assurances of the past which did not see the light of day. Will it be a case of yet another case Rs 180 crore, going down the creek?
