the goan I network
MAPUSA
Close on the heels of Tourism Minister Babu Ajgoankar recently stopping work at Mopa airport for a day, ruling MLA Glen Ticlo on Thursday stopped ongoing work of the sewage treatment plant (STP) in Camarkhazan, Mapusa.
The STP proposed to treat Porvorim sewage incidentally falls in Aldona assembly constituency.
Opposing the plant, the Aldona MLA said he saw no reason why he should allow a plant that treats someone else’s ‘dirt’ in his constituency.
“Why should Porvorim STP come here? So let buildings come up in Porvorim and their dirt flow in my constituency? Can’t they have their own STP,” questioned Ticlo, visibly upset with the plant.
The MLA said that he was totally in the dark about the plant and none of his people were also told about the project.
“I am not aware of anything. None of my people also have a hint about the second phase of the STP meant for Porvorim,” he said.
When The Goan brought to the attention of the local MLA that his own government had planned the STP, he retorted that the department concerned failed to follow proper procedures.
“My government may have started it, but then when they are acquiring land they have to send notices to the owners. No notices have been issued to any of my people who own fields here,” he said.
A group of locals who had gathered at the site heckled the junior engineer for trying to quietly push the project without informing them.
“We have no objection to the first STP meant for Mapusa. But we don’t want the second STP meant for some other constituency,” said a local who was present at the site.
Another local questioned how the project was passed without informing the local MLA and the councilor.
“We will oppose the STP tooth and nail and if required we will block the entire highway,” said John Lobo.
The sewerage officials who were summoned on the site had to beat a hasty retreat after getting a mouthful from the local MLA and the locals.
It may be recalled that The Goan was the first to report on February 12, 2017 that the government had planned to build a second STP for Porvorim next to the STP constructed for Mapusa.
The Sewerage and Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa Ltd had decided to build a 20 MLD sewage treatment plant in Mapusa to treat Porvorim sewage.
