Panaji: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has disposed of a long-pending PIL related to the disposal of waste into the sea, particularly the Colva Creek, expressing satisfaction with the steps taken by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to address the issue.
The PIL, filed in 2011 by The Colva Civil and Consumer Forum through its secretary Judith B Almeida, had raised serious concerns over pollution caused by various hotels, restaurants, and beach shacks along Colva Beach. The petition alleged that several of these establishments were either dumping waste directly into the sea or discharging wastewater through drains that emptied into the Colva Creek—a waterbody stretching over a kilometre before meeting the sea.
The petitioner said the rampant dumping of plastic waste, garbage, and untreated wastewater was choking the creek, degrading the beach’s natural beauty, and contributing to severe water pollution. The petition had sought a writ of mandamus against GSPCB, as well as the panchayats of Colva, Vanelim, Sernabatim, and Gaundalim, urging them to take strict action against the violators. It also sought the cancellation of licences and permits of commercial establishments found polluting the area.
In its recent order, the court noted, “Since we are satisfied that all necessary steps have been taken by GSPCB to take care of the grievances raised in the petition, which was filed more than a decade back, and the follow-up has been done from time to
time through the public interest litigation, we deem it appropriate to dispose of the petition, expressing our satisfaction over the steps that have been taken by the board to curb the menace of disposal of waste into the sea, particularly the Colva Creek.”
The court acknowledged the latest affidavit filed by Dr Shamila Monteiro, Member Secretary, GSPCB, which detailed the actions taken to address the issue in compliance with past court directions.
The affidavit highlighted, among other measures, efforts to operationalise public toilets at Colva beach and ensure the sewage generated is directed to a dedicated sewage treatment plant (STP).
