MARGAO
Residents of Dovondem-Fatorda were back on the roads again, this time to expose the health hazard posed by the rampant discharge of sewage into the storm water nullah adjoining the Hospicio South Goa District Hospital.
They gave the concerned authorities, including the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd, 10 days' time to plug the sewage flow into the storm water nullah or threatened to escalate the issue by staging protests at the site.
As a strong sewage odour enveloped the entire area, posing health hazards to the patients as well as the healthcare workers at the Hospicio hospital, besides school children studying in an adjoining school, the residents took to the streets on Wednesday to demand action.
They pointed out that sewage is gushing out into the storm water nullah from a pipe connected to the underground sewage line. “This should immediately stop. The sewage flow is not only posing a health hazard to the school children and patients undergoing treatment at the Hospicio, but to passers-by as well. People travelling on the main road opposite the Hospicio are complaining of foul odour when they cross Hospicio. The storm water drain is presently covered, but the sewage is flowing underneath into the storm water nullah. The sewage water then flows into the River Sal,” asserted Mauvin.
Another resident, Agnelo Fernandes, said the Bokti lake at Dovondem was devastated in the past due to the sewage flow from a damaged line. “Why should the people of Dovondem in particular and citizens in general face the brunt of the indifference of the authorities?” he demanded to know.
He further demanded to know why Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had not taken up the issue forcefully with the authorities to plug the sewage flow till date.
