VP intimates govt about joint inspection

MARGAO: A movement to save Salpem lake from further degradation has gained impetus with the Navelim village panchayat intimating a host of government departments about a joint site inspection on November 23.
Sarpanch Paul Pereira told TOI on Wednesday that a resolution passed at a recent gram sabha, demanded a joint inspection of the lake by departments including, water resources, Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB), Margao municipal council (MMC), the district magistrate, science and technology department, public health engineering and sewerage.Navelim MLA and PWD minister, Churchill Alemao and Margao MLA and chief minister, Digambar Kamat, have also been included.
"All panchayat members and villagers, especially affected farmers, will also be present," said Pereira, adding, "The issue has been dragging for a long time and the government response so far has been lukewarm. We need to ensure that this time, the state initiates a massive restoration drive to save Salpem."
Meanwhile, the farmers' determination to get the government to resolve the issue is shown by their decision not to bundh the lake this year, said Pereira. Environmental activist, Siddhart Karapurkar, said, "This is the first time ever that farmers have decided on such a measure. It's because there's a large amount of sewage in the water which is getting washed into the river Sal-Salcete's lifeline. They have also decided not to grow the second crop (vaigan) which is going to affect their livelihoods."
It's been over a decade now that the lake is shrinking and its water has turned increasingly murky, say environmentalists. In fact, the quality of water-the sole source of drinking water for the people of Sirvordem and nearby villages till a little over a decade ago-has deteriorated alarmingly and villagers have even spotted fish with abnormal growth (A thigur with extra fins was recently discovered), they point out.
Civic authorities say this is due to the illegal discharge of roughly 50,000 litres of untreated sewage per day from buildings as far as Margao town, and connected via a nullah, to the lake and nearby fields. MMC sanitary inspector, Viraj Arabecar, added that sewage from Gandhi market, Pajifond, Fakirband, Malbhat, etc, is let into the drains that discharge into the lake. "We have done several inspections. We are now awaiting the coordination of all agencies to work out a solution," further added health officer, Margao urban health centre, Dr Geeta Kaokdkar.
Interestingly, in a recent analysis of the lake's water, the GSPCB found that the coliform and faecal coliform present exceeded permissible limits. The report noted that the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values in the said sample exceeded permissible limits. In exercise of powers conferred upon it under Sections 33 (A) read with Section 17 (1) of the Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974, the board issued directions to a number of residential complexes located upstream of the river to immediately stop the discharge of untreated sewage into the river through the huge nullah.
Meanwhile, the Navelim Civic and Consumer Forum has expressed concern over the contamination of groundwater in the entire area. "Laboratory tests conducted on a sample of well water from Sirvodem showed pathogens, bacteria and viruses, dissolved organic compounds, inorganic compounds, wastes, nutrients causing excessive growth of plants and thermal pollution, all beyond permissible limits," alleged forum secretary, Joseph Vaz.
Hoping for a positive outcome from the scheduled joint inspection, Karapurkar added, "We demand that the lake be restored and developed into a recreational spot."