SEMINAR ON WATER SECURITY IN GOA GETS EXCELLENT RESPONSE
At the recently concluded water seminar in the city organised by Clube Vasco da Gama on 28th June, 2013, the President of the Club, Mr Francisco Martins, in his welcome address, reiterated the support of his Club and its members in encouraging the scientific community in Goa to bring forth viable solutions for water security and sustainable utility. He further urged the eminent engineers, scientists and Government dignitaries present, to engage actively with the people of Goa to ensure maintenance of good quality of life by maintaining a continuous supply of clean potable water throughout the state. The eminent speakers were introduced by the retired NIO scientist Mr Stephen Dias who eloquently compered the evening with his witty comments after each presentation. He made also people aware that the first “ water security movement’ was launched by Dr. Joe D’Souza along with the late Matanhy Saldanha who could bring water samples from effluent discharge plants from Du pont and Nylon 66 for analyses in the year of 1974 at the Dr Emidio Afonso Laboratorio de Analises of DHS. Stephen Dias was proud to work under Dr Emidio Afonso guidance in the year 1964 to 1966 and Dr Joe could also analyze these samples at that point of time. Madam Alina Saldanha has also been associated in some of the Meta Strips venture. Introductory comments by Engineer Mahesh Prabhu about Water- The Elixir of Life, was synchronized with a slide show, sending a message to the audience about the current and future perils of water contamination and water shortage on earth. He cited several examples in Goa which already reflected the ill effects of shortage of clean and potable water. Dr Joe D’Souza an eminent scientist and ex-professor of Microbiology of Goa University expressed his views by stating that the Government of Goa should provided free 24 x 7 water supply. He also reiterated that the continuous supply of quality water would not only reduce water wastage by people leaving their taps open but also keep away diseases. Dr A M Wachasundar, Director JICA project, and ex-Principal Chief Engineer of PWD elaborated in detail a master Plan for 24 x 7 water supply in Goa which he said will be possible within 5 years. He made it clear that Goa has already achieved 100% water connections in most parts of the state. He estimated by 2025 requirement of water will be over 500 MLD which we have presently only 200 MLD. Jose Manual Noronha who is holding the post of Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board, was Guest of Honour, he has highlighted the fact that very few rivers originate in Goa itself. He said the high urbanization in Goa was a factor that contributed to water pollution, adding that “The faecal E-coli form in the river Sal was not within acceptable limits” and attributed this to discharge of sewage along the banks of the rivers. Noronha also found that Hotels continually discharging sewage into the Colva creek. Hon. Minister for Environment and Forest, Mrs Alina Saldanha spoke about her experiences in her constituency which she said is a vivid example of haphazard development of Mega projects and voiced her opinion to limit the new Mega projects based on infrastructure bottle necks including water supply and sewage treatment constraints. She ensured full Government cooperation in supporting initiatives to enhance water security and clean water availability throughout the state. The audience was interactive and various queries raised were addressed by the eminent speakers. The seminar ended with a vote of thanks by Jeffrey Chagas Pereira, secretary of the Clube Vasco da Gama who also thanked the co-sponsors of the seminar, M/s Sadekar Enviro Engineers and ISHRAE Goa.