Coastal tourism crisis deepens over Baga sewage plant delays: Lobo

Calangute: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the coastal tourism belt is headed for a serious crisis in sewage disposal in the absence of sewage treatment plants (STPs).“There are so many new resorts, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and buildings coming up.

Where will the sewage be disposed of? In Calangute, completion of the STP at Baga is the need of the hour.

We need a good STP. Otherwise, people will keep on dumping in hills and fields,” Lobo told the media at Baga.He said he spoke to the chief minister about setting up a monitoring committee to oversee Baga STP’s completion. “The Calangute sewerage system has five phases, of which one has started. A lot of work is left. The sewerage corporation has not started giving connections, and the corporation should complete the work,” he said.The Calangute sewerage system, built through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funding, has been delayed for more than a decade.“We call Goa a tourism hub. When so many permissions are given for resorts and hotels, then STP is a must. Sewage tankers line up to empty sewage in Panaji, which only accepts 30 a day,” he said.Lobo said that depending solely on soak pits or dumping into nullahs is a wrong approach as it contaminates the groundwater. “Water level in Goa is always up because of heavy rain. During high tide in coastal areas, the water table rises, and sewage does not drain,” he said.