Court takes cognisance of Navhind Times report, seeks suggestions
Panaji : The High Court of Bombay at Goa has taken on record a news report published in The Navhind Times on June 26, titled ‘Sewage from ‘blocked’ chamber in Fatorda flows into River Sal, farmers threaten agitation’.
Advocates Gauravvardhan Nadkarni and Neha Shirodkar, amicus curiae, submitted a paper cutting of the report before the High Court. The report refers to an agitation by farmers after an overflowing sewage chamber near the South Goa District Hospital in Fatorda discharged thousands of litres of wastewater into nearby cultivated fields, along the public road, and into a nullah, eventually draining into the River Sal.
The situation has raised worries over potential skin infections and environmental contamination.
The report also mentions that the Chief Minister’s intervention was sought. According to the report, it is learnt from sources that the contractor, while connecting the sewerage line to the main network, had blocked the sewage manhole with sacks to facilitate the connection. These sacks were never removed and later entered the chamber, complicating manual removal efforts.
The High Court Division Bench comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Nivedita P Mehta said the court was of the firm view that a solution must be offered as contamination of river water poses a danger and threat to human habitation.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Antonio Alvares concerning sewerage issues.
The amicus curiae placed before the High Court a brief note suggesting measures to be adopted by various authorities to minimise river water contamination, although not completely eliminate it.
The court said that a copy of the note had been furnished to the respective counsel, and it expected that none of them would treat the petition as adversarial. Instead, it sought suggestions and cooperation from all stakeholders to address sewage discharge into water bodies, including the river.
The bench observed that while some steps were being taken, the amicus curiae were of the opinion that further action was necessary.
