Team Herald
MARGAO: Following complaints filed with Margao Police by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, complaints have now been filed with the vigilance department against PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, Member Secretary of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the Chairman and Managing Director of Sewerage & Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) for the contamination of River Sal.
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It is to be noted that Cabral is also the Chairman of SIDCGL.
While letters were also sent to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding that all such officials be sacked, the MLA requested the Vigilance department to immediately carry out an inquiry and take stringent action against all of them and all other culprits under the applicable laws.
Viegas also provided photographic evidence dated November 4, 2022 of the raw sewage being discharged from the pipeline of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Sirvodem, Navelim, using the emergency overfill discharge line, which has an outlet to the nullah adjacent to the STP plant and leading to the River Sal.
He also gave information about another 6 locations that had been identified in June 2021, where raw sewage is being discharged into the River via broken sewerage network chambers and STPs till date, due to which the intentional discharge and contamination of River Sal continues.
Viegas charged the officials mentioned in his complaint for failing to ensure compliance of procedure of emergency discharge and to stop the misuse of an outlet that is part of the Navelim STP, which is being used repeatedly during multiple emergency situations.
