Nanda lake faces pollution threat from Cacora nullah contamination, warn locals

Margao: A day after dead fish were discovered floating in a water body at Karmaliwada in Cacora, officials from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and the health department on Saturday visited the site.

GSPCB drew water samples from the nullah and the nearby garbage treatment plant to ascertain the source of contamination.The development has alarmed locals, who fear that the Nanda lake, a designated wetland, could face a serious pollution threat if urgent corrective steps are not taken to clean the nullah which joins the lake.Former Curchorem-Cacora councillor Pushkal Sawant, who accompanied officials during the inspection, told reporters that the smell emanating from a water tank inside the garbage treatment plant was identical to the foul odour from the nullah.

“We strongly suspect that the water from this tank finds its way into the nullah which leads to the Nanda lake. They should immediately plug the leakage and clean the nullah entirely,” Sawant said.The incident, which came to light on Friday, had triggered widespread concern among residents, who alleged that contaminated water flowing through the nullah near the waste management plant had entered the water body, leading to the fish kill.

It had also sparked a heated exchange between Sawant and representatives of the company operating the waste management facility.The Cacora garbage treatment plant has been a subject of controversy since it began receiving waste from several parts of South Goa, including Margao — even as it was originally intended to handle garbage only from Sanguem, Quepem and Dharbandora talukas. Locals also alleged that similar incidents of contamination had occurred in the past without any remedial action being taken.