Team Herald
MARGAO: In an interesting development Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral and Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas erupted into a verbal spat over the issue of discharging raw sewage water into the River Sal from the Sirvodem Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
Minister Cabral accepted the faults and said that the government officials aren’t complying to his instruction.
He also assured that the concerned officials responsible for opening the emergency valveand releasing the raw sewage into the river will be suspended, but before that a system over here will be put in place.
On the other hand, Benaulim MLA Viegas demanded a fine to be imposed on the Sewage Corporation for polluting the River Sal by discharging raw sewage into it and also said that the Environment Minister needs to take the responsibility of what has happened over here.
On Saturday, Cabral along with all the concerned officials visited the STP at Sirvodem, Navelim, wherein MLA Viegas also remained present. Cabral was taken on talks by the MLA which later resulted in a major verbal spat between both the political leaders.
Going a step further, the MLA charged the Minister for negligence and not keeping watch on the functioning of the plant, besides saying bad words and putting blame on the junior officials. However, Cabral refuted the charges laid against him.
Venzy expressed anger for discharging the raw sewage into the river and no action from the Minister to stop it for the last 15 days and avoiding the local MLA at the time of inspection. The MLA further said that the Cabral needs to behave like a Minister.
However, Cabral refuted the allegation laid down against him by the MLA and said he is
serious about the issue.
Later, the MLA told reporters that the Sewage Corporation has completely violated the law by opening the emergency valve of the plant. Now, who should take this responsibility?
“My issue is not with the junior officers over here, but I want to deal with the Minister of the government, who is responsible for not putting in place the system at the STP. The concerned Minister should be aware of all the things that are in operation or not in operation at the STP, including the emergency valve which was opened for several days to release the raw sewage into the River Sal, resulting in pollution to the river,” he stated.
He said, “Now it is very much clear that the River Sal is being polluted and the main reason is release of raw sewage from the STP. The concerned authorities need to impose a fine on the Sewage Corporation for polluting the river by discharging raw sewage. Sewage Corporation also needs to clean the river which is being polluted by them.”
However, admitting that there is no system in place, Cabral told reporters that the concerned officials engaged in opening the valve and releasing the raw sewage into the river will be suspended immediately.
