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The Goa State Pollution Control Board has served a show-cause notice on the Prabhu Violetta Phase I residential complex in Vasco, Goa, citing discharge of untreated sewage and absence of mandatory operational consent. The project has been asked to explain within a week why environmental compensation amounting to INR 44.50 lakh and INR 12.50 lakh should not be imposed. The regulator has also directed the immediate cessation of sewage discharge and mandated interim arrangements for waste transport to a public treatment facility. The action follows repeated non-compliance, including earlier directions issued last year and complaints from local authorities regarding unhygienic discharge affecting surrounding areas.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to Prabhu Violetta Phase I, a residential development in Vasco, Goa, in the past week, directing the project to justify violations related to the discharge of untreated sewage and failure to obtain statutory approvals under environmental laws. The action follows inspections and test reports that indicated pollution beyond permissible limits, prompting the regulator to initiate proceedings under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Advertisement
According to the board's directive, the project faces potential environmental compensation totalling INR 44.50 lakh and INR 12.50 lakh for operating without valid consent and for releasing untreated effluents into open areas. The regulator has instructed the developer to immediately halt such discharge and to provide a formal explanation within seven days on why penalties should not be enforced.
Inspection findings highlighted that key pollution parameters including biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, ammoniacal nitrogen, total suspended solids, total nitrogen and faecal coliform exceeded permissible thresholds. The board observed that the sewage treatment plants within the complex were not functioning efficiently, leading to contamination in the surrounding environment.
As an interim measure, the authority has directed that sewage collected from both treatment plants be transported daily via tanker services to a public works department facility until the on-site systems are repaired, fully operational, and functioning under supervision. Compliance with these directions is also linked to obtaining the mandatory consent to operate, which the project currently lacks.
The regulator further noted that the project had not complied with earlier instructions issued last year. Its application for renewal of consent had previously been rejected after instances of sewage overflow into stormwater drains were identified. At that stage, authorities had also recommended disconnection of utility services to the flats until compliance was achieved.
In addition, the project reportedly did not attend a scheduled personal hearing concerning complaints raised by the Chicalim panchayat regarding unhygienic discharge into nearby drains. The board has indicated that continued violations and operation without statutory clearance reflect serious non-compliance with environmental norms.
The authority has warned that failure to comply with current directions could lead to further legal action without additional notice. It has also indicated that follow-up inspections will be conducted to ensure adherence to prescribed environmental standards and to safeguard public health in the surrounding area.
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