MMC prepares notices for establishments, households which failed to reply to notices
When will the authorities stop the rampant discharge of raw sewage water in the storm water nullahs of Margao and neighbouring Fatorda?
MARGAO
Exactly a week after the High Court issue directions in the Salpem lake contamination Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to stop the sewage flow in the storm water drains and nullahs, concerned authorities may have to grapple with a pertinent question – have these authorities drawn up an Action plan to implement the court directives in letter and spirit?
The High Court had on November 19 issued a host of directions to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Margao Municipal Council, Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd, PWD, Sewerage to fix the sewerage issues plaguing the commercial capital.
Each of these departments were issued specific directions by the High Court, including directions to the Pollution Control Board to seal 51 commercial establishments, operating without the mandatory Consent to Operator nor have made any applications to obtain Consent to operate the business.
Take note, the High Court had set time-frame for each of the departments to comply with the directives before they filed their individual reports to the Court at the next date of hearing scheduled on January 13.
Questions, however, are asked in city circles whether these departments have drawn up a Plan of Action to implement the Court directives in both letter and spirit. For, these departments are now required to take hard decisions on the ground, which involves sealing of business establishments, besides shutting down establishments which has not even bothered to reply to the show cause notices issued by the Margao Municipal Council till date.
The Goan understands that the office administration has prepared the notices for the establishments and households which failed to reply to the notices issued in the past. Incidentally, the notices have still not gone to the parties till date, sources informed
That’s not all. The High Court directions have mandated the ‘Core Committee” to immediately convene a meeting and decide to take appropriate action/steps for redresal of sewage discharge in the low lying areas, such as Malbhat, Gandhi Market etc, within a period of two weeks from the date of the order and file an Affidavit of Compliance within a period of one week thereafter.
Sources in the Margao Municipal Council have pointed out that Core Committee is expected to meet this week, but the panel has a task at hand – to suggest temporary/permanent measures which can be taken to prevent the discharge of sewage from the low lying areas, such as Malbhat, Gandhi Market etc., to prevent any discharge of sewage in the storm water drains by the next date so that further orders could be passed.
Says petitioner in the Salpem lake contamination PIL, Prof Antonio Alvares: ‘Given the gravity of the sewage issue staring at the city and the sewage waste flowing into Salpem lake and the adjoining river Sal, it is of utmost important that the all the departments work in tandem to stop the sewage flow in the storm water drains. The High Court has issued separate directions to the concerned departments with a time-frame for implementation. I hope the departments work in close coordination and implement the directions in both letter and spirit and resolve the issue once and for all”.
