NT Reporter
Panaji
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has said there must be a long-term solution to prevent contamination of streams in Ponda, while disposing of a petition seeking the relocation of a Sulabh Shauchalaya built near water bodies.
A counsel, under instructions, stated that the Ponda Municipal Council principally agreed that the Sulabh Shauchalaya needed to be shifted at a safe distance to ensure the perennial freshwater stream was not contaminated. He submitted that steps would be taken at the earliest to
relocate the facility.
The court noted that while the Sulabh Shauchalaya was at present connected to a sewage tank, “there has to be a full-fledged
long time solution so that the water of stream
in any way does not get contaminated.”
Accepting statements made on behalf of the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the municipal council, the High Court disposed of the petition but gave liberty to the petitioners—Kamlakar Dattaray Sadhale and others—to return to court if their grievances
remain unresolved.
The PIL concerned the conservation of Hanuman Teerth, a freshwater body, with petitioners also praying for barricades along the water to prevent public nuisance, dumping
of garbage, and further
contamination.
