Goa’s Mandovi river full of faecal coliform, study warns

A recent study has found that Goa's Mandovi river, which flows through the state's capital, Panaji, has dangerously high levels of faecal coliform bacteria. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) conducted tests at 22 points along the river during monsoon season and detected faecal coliform levels ranging from 130 to 540 MPN (most probable number) per 100 ml of water during high tide, and 130 to 940 MPN/100 ml during low tide.

The permissible limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is 100 MPN/100 ml. The study revealed that faecal coliform contamination is significantly higher during low tide compared to high tide. This trend has been observed during pre-monsoon seasons as well. The High Court of Bombay previously proposed to expand a pollution petition to include the Mandovi river due to the dead fish found floating in Mala lake. The CPCB has set the permissible limit for faecal coliform at 100 MPN/100 ml.