Staff Reporter
Margao
Nearly a year after it was closed, the Colva toilet block located near the creek continues to remain shut as the process to connect it to the recently-commissioned sewage treatment plant (STP) is still to be completed. The local panchayat said it will carry out an inspection before granting permission to resume operations.
The toilet block, situated along the Colva creek, was shut following repeated complaints and observations by the panchayat of untreated sewage being released into the creek.
Colva sarpanch Suzie Fernandes said the connection work to the main sewage line has commenced. “Now they have started the process of connecting to the sewage line and the panchayat was also given an application to allow them. The panchayat body has decided to take another inspection and check the ground reality of whether they really have connected or not. The inspection is yet to be taken and if we are satisfied that they have really connected to the sewage plant, only then we will give the required permission,” she said.
In April last year, following a directive from the High Court, the facility and its attached STP were jointly inspected by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), the Colva village panchayat, and the contractor. The inspection led to the toilet block being shut down, although the changing rooms were allowed to remain functional.
The contractor operating the facility said the connection work to the Colva STP is expected to take about eight days to complete.
Meanwhile, beachgoers are disgruntled over the lack of functioning toilet facilities. Rodney Pereira, a visitor, said he was disappointed with the poor maintenance of the facility, pointing to broken tiles, dirty surroundings, and no access to drinking water.
Another visitor Flomena Fernandes said she was met with a strong stench of urine and faeces when she approached the block. “Changing of clothes was being charged Rs 40 and the toilet is not operational at all,” she said.
