Pollution of river Mandovi is not something new. Presence of polluted component was discovered more than a decade back by National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). The scientific research institute through a massive study carried out from 2002-07 discovered that the water in River Mandovi has high level of bacteria, which is far beyond the permissible limit for recreational, bathing and fishing activities.
This was followed by Goa State Pollution Control Board study in 2014, 2015, 2017 and in 2018. Though, the Central pollution Control Board (CPCB) in its report before National Green Tribunal (NGT) has named the river stretch from Marcel to Volvoi of Mandovi as polluted, the State Board study has revealed that the entire river is polluted owing to various reason with prime being direct discharge of sewerage.
Owing to discharges of waste water without proper treatment and indiscriminate outfall of a variety of wastes, the level of pollution intensifies after the voluminous waste water from St Inez creek enters the river near the Panjim Gymkhana. On a daily basis, this creek alone brings in the urban debris, raw sewage, household-garbage including plastic and tire discards into the river.
“The presence of Faecal coliform is very high in River Mandvoi. Discharge of raw sewerage is a prime cause for pollution. The presence of fecal coliform in water indicates that fecal contamination of the water has occurred and that consuming the water or swimming in the water may result in illness,” a senior GSPCB official said
Considering the level of pollution, in a bid to revitalise River Mandovi various State government agencies have proposed a whopping Rs 800 crore action plan to make it pollution-free.
Government agencies like Public Works Department (Rs 8.72cr), Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (Rs 711.75cr), Directorate of Panchayats, Corporation of the City of Panaji (Rs 88cr) and Fisheries Department have proposed a series of schemes for Panjim and areas on the outskirts of capital city. The total cost comes to Rs 808.47 crore.
Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd has proposed a sewerage scheme for Taleigao, Dona Paula and Caranzalem areas, which include design, construction and commissioning of a 15 MLD capacity Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at an estimated cost of Rs 144.25 crore.
The corporation is planning to spend Rs 283.50 crore on a sewerage scheme for Porvorim and surrounding areas, which include seven villages of Salvador Do Mundo, Penha Da Franca, Succurro, Nerul, Pilerne, Reis Magos and Pomburpa.
Another Rs 284 crore sewerage scheme has been proposed for Old Goa and its surrounding areas covering Corlim, Kadamba Plateau and others. All the three projects are expected to be completed by May 2019.
Corporation of the City of Panaji, through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), has proposed development of St Inez creek at an estimated cost of Rs 88 crore. This will also include rejuvenation and development of sewerage management in the creek area under the Smart City project.
PWD has proposed a vacuum sewer scheme for Panjim, providing house-to-house connections for low-lying areas like Patto, Mala and St Inez, at a cost of Rs 8.72 crore. Department of Fisheries has proposed the construction of a 20-seater toilet and waste water treatment plant of 40 KLD capacity at Malim jetty.
The project will be on 50:50 fund sharing between the Centre and the State. Directorate of Panchayats will be constructing bio-digestor toilets in the villages and residential complexes around the river for those who do not have toilet facilities and defecate in the open.
As far as Zuari is concerned, the riverfront from Chicalim to Cortalim has turned out to be scrap yard for idle barges, which remained unused since closer of mines in 2012. Many of them have even broken up. This has resulted into heavy metallic pollution affecting the marine life. However, the Government has not worked out any measure to control the growing pollution along the stretch.
