MARGAO
Even as questions remain unanswered on the role and functions of the “Core Committee” and whether the panel enjoys any statutory powers or just a recommendatory role to implement the long-delayed sewerage lines in the commercial capital, The Goan has found out that the Core panel was constituted at a meeting Margao MLA Digambar Kamat had in the State Secretariat on November 14, 2022 after the Salpem lake contamination issue came under the High Court lens.
The meeting chaired by Kamat to discuss about the status of Sewerage network was attended by Secretary Environment, Managing Director SIDCGL, Sr. Scientist GSPCBA, Executive Engineer, Div. XXI (PHE) Sewerage Dept, PWD along with MMC officials.
At the meeting, it was it was decided that SIDCGL should lay additional sewerage network to connect sullage discharged to the existing sewage network so that there is no discharge of sullage water into the Salpem lake. Further decision was taken that the PWD, SIDCL and MMC shall work in co-ordination to see that all the houses at Azad Nagar are connected to the underground sewerage network.
It was at this meeting that the Core Committee under the Chairmanship of Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer, with officials of SIDCGL, PWD, GSPCB and Health Officer, Urban Health Centre would be constituted to monitor speedy execution of laying sewerage lines. The first meeting of the Core Committee took place on November 18, 2022.
The panel was scheduled to meet again a fortnight later, but questions are being asked in the corridors of the civic body as to how many times the Core Panel has met since November 18, 2022 and whether the panel had in any manner helped to resolve the sewerage imbroglio till date.
