Seven Mala lake sewage outlets sealed: CCP to HC

Panaji: In the suo motu PIL concerning large quantities of dead fish found floating at Mala lake, the Corporation of the City of Panaji on Wednesday told the Bombay high court that it has sealed the outlets of seven residences found releasing their sewage directly into the lake.


The HC directed the owners of the houses concerned to apply for sewerage connections from the Sewage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa.


Justice Jitendra Jain directed the sewerage corporation to decide on their applications expeditiously.


The CCP found another seven residences in the vicinity of the lake releasing wastewater into it.


During the hearing, the HC was also told that one sewage line was found damaged during inspection, and that the sewerage corporation is taking expeditious steps to rectify the defect.


Last week, the HC directed a joint site inspection by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, the water resources department, and the fisheries department to find out who was discharging sewage directly into the lake.


It directed the CCP commissioner to conduct a joint inspection of each house to ascertain the exact cause for the presence of faecal coliform bacteria, to identify its sources, and to take immediate action, including sealing.


The HC observed that in a case of environmental degradation and health hazards, no notices are required before sealing or taking action under the CCP Act and the Public Health Act.