Staff Reporter

Margao

Raising concern over sewage being released into their fields, farmers from Colva on Wednesday demanded that the government put a stop to this practice so that they can cultivate their fields without any difficulty.

The farmers made the request during an inspection that was conducted by officials of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). Local MLA Venzy Viegas was present during the inspection.

Based on the complaints the farmers have been submitting for the last several years, officials of the pollution control board held an inspection of the fields located near the Campo lake on Wednesday and noted that the sewage was being released from a residential housing complex located nearby.

Farmer Carmo Rodrigues said, “I used to cultivate my field but because of the pollution, I had to stop. Earlier, only rainwater was allowed to flow, but it seems that sewage water is also being released now. Because of this, I can’t cultivate the field, as workers going into the field may get infected. This has been happening since 2000 but the pollution is recent.”

Another farmer Irasto Rodrigues said, “From one field to the other, the contamination is spreading; 50% of the fields here have got contaminated. It seems like the sewage water is being released after we had allowed the release of rainwater. My field is also contaminated. We complained about this to the panchayat several times, but no action was taken. So now I have decided to alert the state authorities. I am glad that now the issue has at least been highlighted. We have been keeping on complaining and the latest complaint was submitted to the authorities in August last year.”

Benaulim MLA Viegas said there was a need for the chief minister to take strict action. Speaking to the media, he said, “This issue has been highlighted on the social media but the department is not doing anything about it. The CM must look into this because his departments are not functioning. His secretary for environment and health is holding dual charge and he has to take action.”

Viegas further said, “Sewage is being released at many locations across the coastal stretch, but there is no action. It is the government’s duty to make arrangement for collection of sewage if it is not being treated.”

Stating that the chief minister is failing to meet the expectations, Viegas said people are not afraid of him and are doing whatever they want. “He must put his foot down and take action,” said Viegas.