Calangute grapples with contaminated water

by ERVIN FONSECA
Posted on 2009-02-10
MAPUSA - While there are areas in Goa which face water scarcity, there are other areas where groundwater resources are contaminated due to mushrooming hotels and housing projects. This contamination of water was confirmed sometime back by a study conducted by the World Health Organisation stating that water in the wells of coastal villages was unfit for human consumption.
People are apprehensive that after cities and coastal villages interior villages too may have to live with contaminated water if hotels and large housing projects are allowed to come up unchecked.
Water resources in the entire coastal belt of Bardez have been contaminated due to the discharge of sewage onto the ground. Calangute village has been the worst hit with locals claiming that the well water is unfit for drinking and they have to rely fully on public tap water.
A large number of hotels and housing projects have come up in Calangute giving rise to numerous septic tanks because the ground is no more in a position to absorb sewage.
The sewage is channeled along water bodies or in nullahs, and sometimes it is directly pumped onto the ground through ring wells. This is a matter of great concern as the sewage would contaminate groundwater resources. What is more is that these wells are covered from the top so as to avoid the public gaze.
Talking about the problem faced by the village, the Calangute sarpanch, Mr Joseph Sequeira said, “Ever since 2000 we have been working on a sewage treatment plant for Calangute as all our wells have been rendered contaminated and useless. Calangute is the biggest revenue generating village in tourism for the state government yet our people are forced to suffer with regards to drinking water. Our wells are polluted and we have to rely on public water.”
He recalled a meeting that was held over the treatment plant some three years back which was participated by the officials of Japanese firm Jayka and state government officials. But nothing appeared to be moving after that. The Calangute MLA, Mr Agnelo Fernandes observed that formalities have prolonged the setting up of the plant. He pointed out that the WHO in its survey of coastal well water eight years back had discovered the presence of a bacteria ‘e-coli’ in the well water. This bacteria was in addition to other harmful bacteria that were present. As a result it was concluded that not a single well from the coastal area had safe portable drinking water.
The health officer, Dr Sachin Govekar acknowledged that the situation is really grim. His office had checked some samples of Calangute water and it was found that the water was contaminated and unfit for drinking.
Residents in Calangute have been having a harrowing experience. As finding no solace from the government they have been approaching the court since 1998. Various authorities like the directorate of panchayats, health officials, the PWD, Governor’s office, the Chief Minister, the opposition leader, the Chief Secretary and the urban development ministry were petitioned in 2007.
The vice-president of the Mahila Congress, Ms Clotilda Braganza resented the delay in setting up of the plant
“Calangute soil has lost its absorbing capacity. Now to avoid complaints well-type septics are being constructed. This is slow poisoning of tourism activities as our wells are already polluted and we do not use our well water for drinking. Besides all our groundwater resources have already got polluted. While it was decided to build two sewage treatment plants -- one in Margao and the other in Calangute -- we are yet to see Calangute plant becoming a reality,” she stated.