The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Sewerage and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd to process all sewage connection applications from residents near Mala lake within one week. This directive came during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation concerning large quantities of dead fish found floating in the lake.
Progress on Sewage Connections
During the hearing, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) informed the court through its advocate S Karpe that out of 38 show-cause notices issued to houses in the vicinity of Mala lake lacking sewerage connections, 17 houses have now been connected to the sewerage line. Additionally, seven houses have constructed soak pits, ensuring that there is no discharge from 24 houses into the lake. The remaining houses that are still releasing sewage into the lake have been sealed, the CCP stated.
Further Directions
The court also directed the Goa State Pollution Control Board to conduct fresh qualitative and quantitative tests of the lake's water and submit interim results to the court. Last month, the high court had ordered a joint inspection of the area to identify those discharging sewage directly, emphasizing that no prior notices were required for action under the CCP Act and the Public Health Act concerning environmental degradation and health hazards.
In April, the high court took suo motu cognizance of reports of dead fish in Mala Lake and ordered urgent measures to improve water quality. The ongoing efforts aim to address pollution and prevent further ecological damage.
