PANJIM: The State government has proposed to set up temporary small capacity localised sewage treatment plants (STPs) on beach belts across the State to help in effective management of sewage by beach shack operators.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Monday said that the government will take empanelled contractors on board for a period of six years to set up 2 KLD to 15 KLD STPs on beach belts based on the shack load.
According to Cabral, each shack generates four tonnes of sewage daily, on an average. The outflow from each shack will be connected to these STPs. Outflow meters will be set up for each shack and shack operators will be charged based on the outflow of sewage from their shacks. Shacks will even be permitted to use the discharged water after treating it. These temporary STPs will operate upto May every year and then dismantled. They will be set up again for the next tourist season, informed Cabral.
The beach shacks in the vicinity of permanent STPs will be connected to them. The system will be operational for temporary seasonal shacks permitted by the government first, followed by private shacks.
The Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Limited will shortly float a tender to set by the temporary STPs, Cabral said.
The shack operators have not been given permission for soak pits this year to ensure that sewerage does not go into the sea, Cabral asserted.
Earlier, some companies from Mumbai and Goa had given presentations about the design, supply and installation of STP of 5 KLD capacity. It was also stated that the treated water collected would be pumped and used for gardening, toilet flushing, road cleaning, irrigation and cooling.
Meanwhile, the shack operators who won lots to erect shacks this year complained that the Department of Tourism was delaying demarcation of 364 shacks along the beach belt.
Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) Goa president Cruz Cardozo said that already tourist season started more than a month back and the department of tourism was delaying demarcation of shacks after the drawing of lots held last week. “Those who won the lots have started making payments but demarcation is pending,” he said.
