Panaji: For a state like Goa which is dependent on fishing for its diet and tourism for its economy, it should come as bad news that coastal waters in and around all its major beaches have been found polluted. They have not met Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) criteria for SW-II categorisation, which means the water is unfit for bathing, contact water sports and commercial fishing.The water consistently tested high for faecal content, beyond the limits prescribed by the CPCB, as per the reply tabled in the ongoing assembly session. This was also true at three of the four notified olive ridley turtle nesting sites in Goa at Morjim, Galgibaga and Agonda.Most of Goa’s rivers too had high faecal coliform content, up to 300% higher during some months than the prescribed norm. In Oct 2024, the limit even crossed in Khandepar at Opa, water from which tapped for treatment for drinking supply.Water was found high in faecal content for most months of 2024-25 in the coastal waters of Tiracol, Miramar, Bambolim, Calangute, Baga, Morjim, Vagator, Arambol, Baina, Colva, Benaulim and Palolem, states the reply tabled in the assembly by chief minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the environment portfolio.Even a remote beach like Rajbhag in Canacona was found to be polluted by the tests carried out by the Goa State Pollution Control Board, as part of a national programme to monitor water quality.The condition was equally bad when it comes to rivers, and it is not just the Mandovi and Sal which are polluted with sewage waste. Tests were also carried out in Tiracol at Keri-Pernem, Chapora near Siolim bridge, and Sinquerim on Candolim side and near Ganpati temple. All these samples were found high in faecal coliform.This was also true for water of Zuari tested at Panchawadi, Cortalim, Madkai jetty and Borim bridge.Faecal coliform content also exceeded prescribed limits in Valvanti in Sanquelim only during Sep 2024.The permissible limit for faecal coliform is 100 or less MPN per 100ml. Faecal coliform MPN stands for most probable number. It is a statistical method used in water quality testing to estimate the concentration of viable microorganisms, such as E Coli, by observing fermentation in diluted samples, usually reported as MPN per 100ml.Faecal content in July 2024 in Tiracol, for instance, was 3,300 MPN as against the prescribed limit of 100MPD per 100ml.The CM in his reply said that the water resources department has been directed to plug sewage discharge into rivers to improve the water quality.
