Bethora residents alarmed by suspected effluent discharge

Ponda: Residents of Bethora, on the outskirts of Ponda town, have been gripped by concern after noticing a thin layer of chemical-like effluent flowing into the local nullah. Locals allege that factories located upstream, where the nullah originates, deliberately release untreated effluents into the waterway, particularly on weekends when govt offices are shut.They have urged Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to identify the exact source of the suspected chemical contamination. Mahesh Panshikar, a resident of Mestawada, Curti, where the effluent eventually accumulates, said he has observed the discharge for the past fifteen days. He has filmed the flow and shared the footage with the chief minister, besides lodging a complaint with the GSPCB. Officials have since collected water samples from the nullah for testing.“The nullah is a lifeline for nearly seven villages in Ponda taluka. Its water was once used for bathing and washing clothes,” he said.Bethora-Nirankal-Conxem-Codar sarpanch Madhu Khandeparkar acknowledged the presence of a blackish, chemical-like layer on the water. He said the panchayat, along with health officials, will conduct an inspection and ensure strict action against those responsible. Khandeparkar added that a similar incident had occurred earlier, prompting an inspection of an upstream factory, which had then explained its effluent-treatment process. “Even so, we will inspect the units again to locate the source,” he said.