MARGAO: The Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa (SIDGIL), which is facing a lot of criticism from the public over the continuous discharge of sewage into River Sal, has now been served a notice by the Water Resources Department (WRD) following an inspection done on Saturday at Khareband in Benaulim. The report is with the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) but the sewage is still being discharged.

Incidentally, WRD Assistant Engineer (AE) Sainath Nipanikar said that WRD had issued a show-cause notice to SIDGIL last year as well for the contamination of the River Sal through the discharge of sewage into the nullahs that is maintained by their department. Incidentally, the inspection was carried out on the other side of the river. An inspection had been carried out by the Benaulim MLA on last week followed by a joint inspection by the PWD Minister where it was confirmed that raw sewage was being discharged into River Sal from the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Shirovdem, Navelim.

Furthermore, the WRD AE added that WRD had spent around Rs 16 crore to desilt the nullah at Khareband.

A local resident of Benaulim, Ubaldo Fernandes said they had been complaining about the issue from the last 15 years and the stench emanating from the river is unbearable. He criticised the government for failing to take any action on this and questioned if the government only acts against citizens but ignores complaints regarding against its own establishments.

Viegas, who said he had an appointment with the State Chief Secretary (CS) on Monday, added that as per an existing order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the CS is responsible for any type of contamination of River Sal.

He also expressed dismay that the water from the contaminated nullah leads to other water bodies right up to Varca from where fish is caught and later consumed by the unsuspecting public.