OLD GOA, AUG 23
Officials of Pollution Control Board (PCB) on Monday evening found waste water being discharged through a pipe into the Mandovi River close to the Banastarim Bridge.
PCB officials, led by junior environmentalist Shailesh Vaigankar, visited the site after this correspondent informed Environment Minister Alexio Sequiera that a pipeline was discharging waste water into the Mandovi River near the Bansastarim Bridge.
The environment minister has instructed PCB officials to conduct site inspection and give him the report over the matter at the earliest.
Speaking to Herald, Vaigankar said they conducted the inspection on a complaint regarding a pipe, which had been illegally put by some persons.
“It is confirmed that there is a pipe illegally discharging waste water into the Mandovi River. We will investigate into the matter and find out from where the pipe has come. It does not look like a one day job and if any one found guilty, strict action will be taken against those violating PCB rules,” said Vaigankar.
It may be noted that a pharmaceutical company lies close to the site but it has reportedly closed down operations for months. At the other end lies an ice factory, further from the river end.
Corlim Sarpanch Sisto Fernandes along with Secretary Basilio Pires and panchayat staff also visited the site during inspection and stated that the panchayat would file a complaint with PCB.
Later, to trace the pipeline from where it has come, the PCB officials also conducted an inspection at the pharmaceutical company and held talks with the factory manager in this connection.
