PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday slammed the government and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’souza for the failure to start the Mapusa sewerage plant despite inordinate delays.
AAP Goa convenor Rahul Mhambre asked the government and MLA where the money on this project has been sunk since it is not operational. The party has demanded that the MLA share a white paper on the project, its status and its funding. The residents of Mapusa have been saddled with a white elephant, and while the sewage plant lies unfinished, sewage is being discharged in the groundwater and has turned the Mapusa tar river into a gutter, stated AAP in its press release.
The release further states that the project was sanctioned in 2012 for a budget of Rs 152 crore and given to Simplex Infrastructure Ltd. Originally the project was to be completed by 2015, but as of now, it is still unfinished. The extension in the timeline has added a further Rs 100 crore to the project cost all coming out of the pockets of Goans. The project which was to deal with the sewerage needs of Calangute, Baga and Mapusa has thus far not seen the light of day despite the Mapusa MLA being the VP of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. The MLA had stated that the oft-delayed plant would be functional by May 2021, but six months later it still isn't.
Mhambre took the press for a tour to see how the plant is lying unused. AAP volunteers and residents shared how blockages are causing problems and underground pipes are lying uncleaned. Residents also shared their concerns about the groundwater of Mapusa being polluted by the discharge of sewerage that is seeping into it, the release added.
