Team Herald
PANJIM: With Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identifying eleven river stretches in Goa as highly polluted and unsafe for bathing, State Government has decided to draft an action plan for restoration of these rivers. A State-level committee under Secretary Environment has been constituted for the purpose.
In a list submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), CPCB has named river stretches of Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Talpona, Assonora, Bicholim, Chapora, Khandepar, Sinquerim, Tiracol and Valvanti as polluted rivers under Criteria III, IV and V, that is having BOD between 10-20 mg/L, between 6-10 mg/L and between 3-mg/ L.
Total eight river stretches fall under Category V those are- Assonora to Sirsaim (Assonora), Bicholim to Curchirem (Bicholim), Ponda to Opa (Khandepar), along Candolim (Sinquerim) along Tiracol (Tiracol) Sankhali – Bicholim to Poriem(Valvanti) and Curchorem to Madkai (Zuari).
The two river stretches that fall under category IV are- Marcela to Volvoi (Mandovi) and along Canacona (Talpona). The river stretch from Khareband to Mobor (Sal) falls under Category III.
As per NGT directions, Government has constituted nine-member River Restoration Committee to prepare an Action Plan for restoration of the polluted river stretches identified by the Board. The action plan has to include all the directions passed by the NGT.
NGT Principal Bench in its series of directions had directed all the States to adopt ‘Polluter Pays Principle’ (PPP) to recover the cost of rejuvenation of rivers from those who are responsible for the pollution. It has asked State to come up with action plan within two months, and to be fully implemented in six months.
The action plan will include components like identification of polluting sources including functioning/ status of STPs/ETPs/CETP and solid waste management and processing facilities, quantification and characterisation of solid waste, trade and sewage generated in the catchment area of polluted river stretch.
The action plan will address issues relating to ground water extraction, adopting good irrigation practices, protection and management of Flood Plain Zones (FPZ), rain water harvesting, ground water charging, maintaining minimum environmental flow of river and plantation on both sides of the river. Also, the plan should focus on proper interception and diversion of sewage carrying drains to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and emphasis should be on utilisation of treated sewage so as to minimise extraction of ground or surface water.
The members of the State level committee include representatives from Goa State Pollution Control Board, Health department, Sewerage Infrastructure, Water Resources Department and Director Panchayat. The Project Director Japan International Co-Operation Agency (JICA) is also part of the committee.
