The Water Resources Department (WRD) has proposed a 3 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) at Khareband to prevent sewage from entering the River Sal through the storm-water drainage network.
The proposed plant, estimated to cost around ₹24 crore, will treat sewage flowing through the Khareband nullah before it reaches the river. The WRD has submitted the proposal to the Goa Government and is awaiting approval.
The Khareband project will serve as a pilot initiative for tackling sewage discharge into the River Sal. The WRD has also prepared plans for similar treatment facilities at other points along the river.
If the Khareband plant delivers the expected results, the department plans to take up additional projects along the stretch of the River Sal passing through Margao. These plants will intercept sewage carried through storm-water nullahs and treat it before discharge.
The department has also prepared an estimate for a 5 MLD STP near the Comba course on the upstream stretch of the River Sal. The proposed plant is estimated to cost around ₹38 crore.
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar had earlier announced plans to establish STPs at multiple locations along the River Sal in Margao and Fatorda. The proposed facilities aim to intercept sewage and wastewater entering the river through storm-water nullahs.
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Government to Decide Executing Agency
The government will also decide which agency will execute the Khareband project.
The WRD manages the storm-water nullahs, while the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) handles sewerage infrastructure and STP projects across the State.
WRD officials have said the department has proposed the Khareband plant to the government. If the government gives the WRD approval to proceed, the department will execute the project. Otherwise, SIDCGL could take up the work.
Multiple STPs Planned Along River Sal
The WRD has identified multiple locations for mini-STPs along the River Sal. The broader proposal includes treatment facilities at Khareband, Comba near the wholesale fish market, and near Salpem Lake.
The department intends to intercept sewage and wastewater before it reaches the river through the storm-water drainage system.
The proposed projects also bring attention to the need to identify the sources of sewage entering the nullahs. A detailed assessment of the drainage network could help determine the volume of sewage entering the system and identify connections from households and commercial establishments.
For now, the 3 MLD Khareband STP remains the first proposed project. The government’s decision on the proposal will determine the next steps for implementation and the possible expansion of similar sewage treatment facilities along the River Sal.
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