Home / Environment / River Sal Faces Urgent Pollution Crackdown
River Sal Faces Urgent Pollution Crackdown
15 Jul
Summary
- Authorities directed to clean nullahs and identify sewage discharge points.
- Houses and complexes must connect to sewerage or have treatment plants.
- Residents' complaints about Sal river pollution date back to 2008.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has mandated urgent measures to combat pollution in River Sal, responding to persistent complaints and an official inspection. The Water Resources Department is tasked with desilting and cleaning nullahs within Fatorda and Margao, and pinpointing sources of sewage discharge into the river.
The Margao Municipal Council and Urban Health Centre will jointly investigate household and complex sewage connections, prioritizing areas like Bolshe Circle and Comba. Large residential complexes must have functional sewage treatment plants or be linked to the public sewerage system. The Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) and Public Works Department (PWD) are directed to extend sewerage lines where necessary, ensuring domestic and commercial waste goes to the public network, not storm drains.
These directives aim to address pollution that residents have reported since 2008. The Sal river, one of Goa's longest, has suffered significant degradation, with the Khareband-Margao stretch identified as the most polluted. Studies indicate a decline in water quality due to solid waste dumping and untreated sewage, leading to increased dissolved solids and higher pH levels.
