PANAJI
The Goa government seems to have missed out as far as sewerage infrastructure development is concerned as it is evident from the fact that the State’s sewerage coverage is merely 18 per cent, much below the national average of 28 per cent.
Moreover, more than 70 per cent of the total sewage generated by the State remains untreated, thus exposing possible extent of pollution due to direct discharge of raw sewage.
According to the Public Works Department (PWD), the present sewer coverage is about 18 per cent in Goa, against the national average of 28 per cent. State’s progress on sewerage coverage is moving at snail pace- as in 2022, the coverage stood at 16 per cent.
“Three major cities of Panaji, Vasco and Margao are already connected with the sewer network, with a total installed capacity of 93.45 million litres per day (MLD),” the department said. Interestingly, despite over 200 MLD of waste generated by the State, only 45 MLD is received at STP for treatment.
The works of sewer lines are ongoing in the North coastal belt, Mapusa, Porvorim, Ponda and Navelim.
“With rapid rise in population, thrust of urbanisation and growth of tourism industry, treatment of sewage and disposal of waste water to avoid environmental degradation has become a vital task,” the department said in the performance budget released.
State has around eleven sewage treatment plants (STPs), nine are currently operational as per the norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These are in Bambolim, Mormugao, Navelim, Ponda, Cortalim, Sanquelim, Porvorim and Santa Cruz.
PWD officials stated that treated sewage is released in water bodies like sea, river, nullahs along with its uses for gardening and social forestry. An officer said that it is important that the State has in place a well planned and developed sewerage scheme.
“Despite introducing various schemes, people are still hesitant or not interested at all in taking sewerage connections. This has become a major issue,” the official said.
The department is contemplating adopting technologies like Sequential Batch Reactor, Membrane Bio- Rector, Natural Treatment System, Vacuum Sewerage System for laying sewer lines.
