Goemkarponn desk
CALANGUTE: Calangute Village Panchayat Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira today said that the Sewerage Treatment plant in its jurisdiction is operating illegally with permission.
The Calangute Village Panchayat Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and members inspected the Sewerage Treatment Plant today.
“Today, we inspected the Sewerage Treatment plant. It is operating without permission. PWD engineer has sought no permission to operate it. Today sewage is being discharged. The video is the same is viral on social media,” said Sarpanch.
He further said that according to the engineer, it is consent to establish, which is for three years, and that was from 2011 to 13, but after that, there is no consent.
“The engineer is corrupt and a lier; he has cheated us. We have asked the concerned authorities to immediately stop the work and apply for an occupancy certificate from the Panchayat,” he added.
Sequeira also said he will write to the Electricity Department to disconnect the power connection as there is no occupancy.
“The sewerage treatment plant is the biggest scam. The cost has gone on increasing,” he added.
The recent episode of beach shacks in Calangute releasing their sewage into illegal soak pits or into the sea has brought the Rs 100-crore JICA-funded sewerage project in the tourism hub back in focus.
Many hotels and resorts also allegedly release sewage into nullahs, fields and other places.
Without a reverse water pipeline, the froth will come on the beach and affect the swimming area for people,” he said.
“The plant is complete, and connections are awaited. The treated water, if released into river, will cause pollution.
