MARGAO
Farmers of Arlem-Raia cried foul after sewage odour emanated from their vegetable farms in the last two days.
Up in arms, the farmers brought the matter to the notice of the Raia panchayat elected representatives and citizens, before realization dawned on them that the foul odour in their vegetable fields was on account of the sewage water pumped out from an underground line due to a breakdown.
The farmers pointed out that their area under vegetable cultivation along the eastern bypass has been smelling of stench and foul odour in the last couple of days.
When a group of citizens, including former Sarpanch Xavier Fernandes, panch member Mario D’Souza and others inspected the fields, they found to their shock that water from a damaged underground sewage line is being pumped out, which finds its way into the vegetable fields.
An official supervising the work initially maintained that the water pumped out from the chamber was underground water and not sewage, but had to take back his statement when Xavier dared him to take a bath if the water is pure.
An official of the Goa Sewerage Corporation later assured the farmers and villagers that pumping of the water from the spot will be forthwith stopped. The contractor later assured the villagers that he would immediately get the pipes, used to carry the water towards the fields, removed from the place.
Panch member Mario D’Souza slammed the authorities for pumping the sewage water into the fields cultivated by the local farmers.
“We had received the complaints from the farmers that water emanating sewage odour has reached the farms cultivating vegetables. When the farmers growing vegetables need protection and amenities to take the traditional occupation forward, their farms are being devastated with sewage odour. This has to stop forthwith”, Mario demanded.
Xavier demanded that officials of the PWD and Sewerage Corporation should monitor the works to ensure that sewage odour does not find its way in the fields in the future.
