Team Goemkarponn
Colva: Half a year after the High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation concerning sewage discharge into Colva creek, residents claim the water body has once again deteriorated, with darkened water and floating garbage visible in several stretches.
The PIL had been filed by the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, which raised concerns over untreated sewage and effluents contaminating the creek. While disposing of the petition, the High Court had expressed satisfaction with the measures reportedly undertaken by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to tackle waste disposal into the sea and specifically into Colva creek.
Despite this, locals now question whether those corrective steps have been sustained. Residents are asking whether sewage inflow into the creek has truly been halted and whether routine maintenance and cleaning are being carried out. Concerns have also surfaced about whether all commercial establishments in the area have been connected to the Colva Sewage Treatment Plant by the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL), particularly when several businesses had earlier indicated their readiness to opt for connections.
Judith Almeida, Secretary of the Colva Civic and Consumer Forum and the original petitioner, said she has not observed visible follow-up action from the Pollution Control Board, Tourism Department or other concerned authorities. She expressed concern over the creek’s condition, stating that many visitors, including children, may be unaware that the water is contaminated.
Almeida has appealed to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also handles the Environment portfolio, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, and the Colva Village Panchayat to coordinate efforts to restore the creek. She warned that continued neglect could impact Colva’s image as a tourist destination, particularly among international visitors.
Activist Simon Rodrigues echoed similar concerns, asserting that meaningful improvement would only come once all commercial units are provided with functional sewage connections. He claimed that while businesses are willing to comply, there appears to be insufficient administrative follow-through. Rodrigues called for immediate intervention from the Tourism Minister and relevant officials to prevent further environmental damage.
