Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar has accused the BJP government of failing to address sewage pollution in the Mandovi estuary, demanding transparency and accountability following alarming findings by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
According to the GSPCB’s interim report submitted to the Bombay High Court at Goa, faecal coliform levels were nine times above permissible limits at all 22 sampling points during monsoon sampling conducted in August. The findings have intensified concerns over sewage contamination in the Mandovi estuary and surrounding waterways.
Chodankar said the government could no longer ignore the pollution concerns repeatedly raised by Congress and questioned the lack of clear answers on the measures being taken to prevent untreated sewage from entering water bodies.
He questioned the government’s sewage management arrangements in the context of revenue generated by six casinos, which reportedly contributed ₹1,750 crore to the state over five years, averaging ₹350 crore annually.
The GSPCB report states that its records show casino wastewater being transported to the sewage treatment plant at Patto, with no evidence in those records of discharge into the Mandovi estuary.
However, Chodankar sought details on what happens after the sewage reaches Patto, including its treatment, final disposal and independent verification of the systems involved. He called for disclosure of the complete process to establish whether wastewater is being managed safely.
He also referred to information presented by the government in the state Assembly in March, stating that water samples collected at five locations around the casinos had recorded faecal coliform levels above permissible limits every month since at least 2022. In some months, the levels were reportedly 200% or more above the limits.
The High Court is examining pollution in Mala Lake following the discovery of hundreds of dead fish in the waterbody earlier this year.
Following the incident in April, the Corporation of the City of Panaji informed the High Court in May that it had sealed waste outlets at seven houses allegedly discharging into Mala Lake. It also reported that a damaged sewage line was being repaired and that affected homeowners would have to apply for sewage connections.
Chodankar alleged that residents had reported a similar incident the previous year without timely intervention. He called for continuous monitoring and preventive action rather than measures taken only after environmental damage becomes evident.
The GSPCB has identified several potential sources of untreated sewage entering the Mandovi, including drainage channels, domestic drains and urban nullahs. These include Rua de Ourem, city market drainage, the Betim fishing jetty, Betim fish market, seasonal storm drains and the heavily polluted St. Inez Creek.
Chodankar demanded that the government identify the sources of contamination, establish responsibility among the departments concerned and publish a time-bound corrective action plan. He specifically sought accountability from agencies responsible for sewage management, including the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa.
Chodankar also raised concerns over information indicating that at least 600 sewage tankers carrying wastewater from the hotel industry arrive daily at the Tonca Sewage Treatment Plant, located adjacent to the St. Inez canal.
He demanded disclosure of the plant’s treatment capacity, the volume of sewage received daily, actual treatment performance and final disposal arrangements. He also called for an investigation into possible leakage into nearby waterways.
The Congress leader further questioned sewage collection, treatment and disposal arrangements in Smart City Panjim, arguing that urban infrastructure development must be accompanied by effective pollution control.
Chodankar called on the government to publish a comprehensive plan to tackle pollution in the Mandovi estuary, Mala Lake and St. Inez Creek. He also demanded full disclosure of sewage collection, treatment and disposal arrangements for casinos and the hotel industry, along with an independent inspection of the Tonca treatment plant.
Other demands include identifying pollution sources, fixing responsibility among the agencies concerned, publishing regular water-quality reports and disclosing corrective measures taken.
Chodankar said Goa’s waterways must not become dumping grounds and urged the government to ensure transparency, accountability and immediate action to address the sewage pollution concerns.
