Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, accompanied by Sancoale Panchayat officials, conducted a joint inspection of the polluted Nullah at Shindole on Tuesday morning. This move came after several complaints from local residents about the stream’s severe contamination.
Addressing the media, Vas stated, “I have been inspecting the area over the last few days to pinpoint the source of the contamination. The stream is heavily polluted and the stench is unbearable, making it difficult for people to live here. I have also involved the Goa State Pollution Control Board officials, who have collected water samples. We expect their findings within a week.”
Vas indicated that some residents suspect sewage tankers might be discharging waste into the stream, particularly during the monsoon season. “During an inspection at the hilltop with locals, we discovered a nearly non-functional sewage treatment plant (STP). The plant’s capacity is inadequate for the area’s needs, which might lead to seepage causing contamination. Additionally, there is a suspicion that sewage tankers are illegally dumping sewage into the stream under the cover of rain. Let me be clear: anyone caught releasing sewage into the stream will face the harshest penalties. Their licenses will be permanently revoked,” Vas warned.
Former Sancoale Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar raised a different concern, suggesting that fuel leakage from the nearby Oil Tanking storage could be a contributing factor. “In the past, the stream was teeming with fish and locals relied on its water. Now, it’s contaminated with a peculiar black algae, indicating possible oil leakage from the Sancoale oil storage depot. The MLA should investigate this potential source as well. The villagers have faced issues from oil leaks before, but intervention from Minister Mauvin Godinho had previously resolved the matter. We urge MLA Vas to consider this possibility, and if necessary, we are ready to unite and protest against the depot,” Borkar asserted.
The inspection has highlighted multiple potential sources of the contamination, from inadequate sewage treatment to possible illegal sewage dumping and oil leakage. Vas’s commitment to a thorough investigation and promise of strict action underscores the urgency of addressing this environmental hazard. The community awaits the Pollution Control Board’s report and anticipates decisive measures to restore the stream’s health and safety.