Mormugao housing society told to shut STP for violations

Panaji: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked a housing society in the Mormugao taluka to shut down its sewage treatment plant (STP) due to violations. The society, Rio De Goa, was directed to suspend operations of its STP within 15 days, and the departments of electricity and public works were directed to ensure that power and water supply to the project were disconnected within 30 days.A joint site inspection had been conducted by the pollution control board and primary health centre on May 13. “Evidence of wastewater discharge from Rio de Goa from two different points from the premises of the said unit was observed. Evidence of wastewater discharged from point 1 flowing down the hill and reaching the area near the complainants’ house and well was observed. No flow of discharge of wastewater was seen at the time of inspection.

However, evidence of wastewater discharged previously was observed,” the inspection report said.As the complainant informed the officials that the wastewater was being discharged at night and that the opening was not visible as it was covered with dry garden waste, the dry waste was cleared, and the wastewater was uncovered during the inspection.“At the time of inspection, the STP was operational. A final treated water sample of the STP was collected at the time of inspection and analysed in the board’s laboratory.

According to the reports, faecal coliform parameters have been found exceeding the permissible limits,” the GSPCB said in its notice to the housing project.As per the water sample analysis test report of the sample of the well water taken from near the complainant’s house on April 7, the turbidity, total coliform, and faecal coliform parameters were found to be exceeding the permissible limits.