The Times of India  25.08.2010

PANAJI: Failure of a large number of sewage treatment plants in residential complexes and the consequent discharge of untreated sewage into paddy fields, nullahs and other open spaces is increasingly becoming a public nuisance in the state.

Sources in the town and country planning department told TOI on Tuesday that complaints of untreated sewage being discharged into public places are increasing before the department from village groups and individual citizens. There are no records of such complaints yet, but TCP sources said STPs installed in "gated communities" in Goa are "failing frequently."

The large residential complexes in Goa are always installing sewage treatment plants in accordance to regulations prescribed by the TCP department. But once the developer moves out and hands over the complex to the society or the residents' association, the problem crops in, if the sewage treatment plant fails. Maintenance of STPs is expensive and if the collection of funds from members by the society or association is lax, then repairs of STP suffers. The untreated sewage is then discharged into public places thus causing public nuisance.

Unfortunately, after the occupancy certificate has been issued to the complex, neither the TCP nor the planning and development authority (PDA) have any control over the complexes. Only municipal corporations or municipal councils and health services can do something about the problem.

Although the Goa public health act does have provisions empowering the health department to act against such problems but the provisions are very inadequate. Complaints to the health department and even to the Goa state pollution control board do result in inspections and reports but not much else. The problem persists, sources said.

That is why the government must step in now in public interest and seriously address the problem. Some legal framework is needed so that one centralised authority is made accountable and given powers to handle this problem, sources said. In fact, the Goa state sewage corporation that appears to be non-working presently, could be roped in to fill this role and in co-ordination with the health department, Goa state pollution control board or municipal council, enforce regulations.

Sources in the TCP said that the wholesale aversion to mega projects in Goa is partly due to the growing problem of untreated sewage from large complexes flowing into public places. The government could well to address the problem and assuage an angry public, sources said.