VASCO
Even as diarrhoea cases at the Prabhu Violetta residential complex in Dabolim rose to 160 with two fresh cases reported on Sunday, the situation on the ground appears to have eased only because several residents have temporarily moved out, citing fear of contamination and unsafe water.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, including the two suspected typhoid cases detected earlier, while medical teams remain engaged in follow-up visits and treatment of affected residents.
However, many occupants say the visible dip in distress is largely due to families vacating their flats and shifting to rented accommodations or relatives’ homes.
“People are not feeling safe staying here anymore. Many families who have been suffering for days have now moved out temporarily. That is one of the main reasons why the situation looks under control,” a resident said.
Residents expressed disappointment over what they described as a lack of visible support from elected representatives during the crisis.
“Except for the sarpanch, no elected representative has come here to understand our problems. We have not seen any politicians including MLAs, ministers or even MPs visiting the site, which has been very disheartening for all of us,” a resident said.
Locals also raised concerns over the lack of communication regarding health findings.
“Samples were collected by health authorities, but the results have not been shared with residents so far. People are anxious and want clarity on what exactly caused the outbreak,” another resident added.
Frustration has also been directed at the builder, with residents alleging that there has been no meaningful engagement to address their grievances.
“The builder has neither met us nor discussed any concrete plan to resolve the issue. Many residents feel mentally exhausted, and some have now stopped coming forward to raise their voices,” a resident said.
Residents have further urged the police to take stronger action, pointing out that officials had visited the site more than once and even witnessed alleged sewage discharge.
“Police have come here twice and have seen the situation themselves, including the sewage discharge. But beyond registering an FIR, we are not aware of any progress. We request the police to act firmly in this matter,” a resident said.
Authorities continue to keep a close watch on the situation as efforts remain underway to bring the outbreak fully under control and address the underlying causes.
Builder begins tanker disposal of sewage
In a significant development, the builder has now begun transporting sewage through night soil tankers to government sewerage facilities, following directions issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board. The move comes after sustained scrutiny and action by authorities, with the GSPCB mandating tanker-based disposal until both Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at the complex are made fully functional.
“After so much pressure and action from authorities, the builder has finally started sending sewage through tankers to PWD plants as directed. This should have been done much earlier,” a resident said.
