Panaji: Goa’s sewage treatment plants (STPs) are being utilised at just around 55% of their actual capacity, the state has told Centre.There are 14 treatment plants in the state with a total capacity of 113.3 minimal liquid discharge (MLD), but only 63.3 MLD is being utilised, the state told Centre in its status report on STPs.The state’s urban areas generate an estimated 72.7 MLD, a senior official said. Of the 14 operating STPs, two are in Shirvodem, one each in Navelim, Vasco, Durbhat, Goa Medical College, Sancoale, Sanquelim, Colva, Kavlem, Baga, Mapusa and two in Panaji — Tonca and Patto.Govt is in the last stage of completing the work on Curchorem and Porvorim STPs. A senior govt official said that the two STPs are likely to be completed in Dec 2026.“Where sewer networks are not available, septic tanks and soak pit arrangements are adopted (especially in most rural areas). In addition, hotels and residential buildings — with 50 or more rooms and flats — have their own STPs (as mandated under the TCP Act 2010). Sulabh toilets are provided for a group of houses/community and bio-toilets have been provided under Open Defecation Free (ODF) policy,” the state told Centre.Another senior govt official said that work on the STPs at Undir, Bandora and Curti-Ponda could not be completed due to local issues. Around 65% of the sewer network has been completed.Current municipal solid waste generation has touched 880 tonnes per day (TPD), and the state has a solid waste treatment plant with 250 TPD capacity that is fully operational at Saligao and caters to the waste being generated from the coast.The state had earlier proposed that a 500-TPD capacity construction and debris (C&D) waste processing plant be set up at Cudchirem in Bicholim. However, due to revenue-related litigations, Goa Waste Management Corporation initiated the process for identifying alternative land for the C&D facility at Tuem in Pernem. It has also proposed to take over land in Tuem, which belongs to the revenue department, to set up the C&D waste facility.The report said that most of the villages have put in place door-to-door collection services; however, no panchayats are practising segregation at source.
