MARGAO
After the host of inspections of the stormwater nullahs discharging raw sewage into river Sal, the action seemed finally on the cards.
If plans are afoot to stop erring households and establishments from discharging raw sewage and wastewater into the drains, government agencies including the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL), PWD, sewerage, Margao Municipal Council and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) have all come under the scanner of the district administration.
These agencies are required to file weekly Action Taken Report (ATR) to the South Goa Collector.
That’s not all. District Collector Jyoti Kumari has now directed the SIDCGL and the PWD to share the areas where sewage connections to households are ready to be laid with the district Administration for issuance of press note to be issued to residents for the mandatory sewerage connection.
While the sewerage issue is likely to be capped in the Fatorda area of the city after the commissioning of the new North main trunk line soon, the administration has come up with another plan to desilt the old trunk line and maintenance for this line to work as back up in times of emergencies.
The SIDCGL has been further told by the Collector to submit a comprehensive report on areas not covered under the sewerage pipeline and submit a project report to cover the same. This measure, sources said, will help the district authorities and the PWD to ascertain the areas where the underground sewerage line has still not been laid to date.
With the stormwater nullahs found carrying sewage into river Sal, the Collector has now directed the Margao Municipal Chief Officer to undertake cleaning of the garbage and solid waste in the vicinity of the nullahs.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) also has been entrusted with the task to clear the garbage within the nullahs.
The SGPDA, which had in the past come under the scanner of the Margao municipality for discharging wastewater in the nullah, is back under the lens of the district Collector.
The SGPDA Member Secretary has been given the task to plug all liquid discharge from the market into the main nullah. The planning body has been further told to clear the garbage dumps from the market. This direction assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that a mini-waste dump has surfaced inside the PDA close to the fish-cutting shed.
Site inspection report & action recommended
Ambaji, Fatorda site
It was observed that the broken manhole is plugged by PWD, but there is a new discharge from the open chamber which is discharging sewage into the fields and finally into the drain. Executive Engineer, PWD has stated that the same shall be repaired but there is apprehension by EE, WRD that it can lead to discharge from somewhere along the trunk line.
Incidentally, WRD Executive Engineer has pointed out that the amount of discharge into the nullah is much more than what is seen as leaking from the open chamber and thus, there would be other sources of leakage which needs to be investigated. Executive Engineer, WRD has been directed to do a ground survey and submit a report to this effect.
District hospital culvert
Sewage was found flowing into the nullah adjacent to District Hospital. Executive Engineer, PWD has stated that the discharge into this nullah is not known and the same may be directly from households. Site inspection and the condition of sewage, besides the fact that there exist no houses in proximity to the channel, shows that the leakage is most likely through the old trunk line. The Executive Engineer, PWD has been asked to verify the site of leakage and the Chief Officer of MMC is directed to inspect houses along the nullah to verify if any discharge is carried out directly into the nullah by these households.
South Goa Collectorate
The nullah is found to be filled with sewage, but the same was not flowing. The Executive Engineer, PWD has stated that there is no discharge from the sewage pipeline and directed the Chief Officer of MMC to verify the source of the sewage discharged from the adjacent houses and office.
Colva junction
The Executive Engineer, WRD has stated that the discharge of sewage from one point is plugged but the same continues upstream in the nullah and is directed to provide a report on the exact source. Executive Engineer, SIDCGL has stated that partial commissioning of the new trunk line by end of December 2022 shall resolve this issue.
Comba
Around three broken manholes are seen discharging sewage into the nullah. Executive Engineer, SIDCGL has stated that temporary repairs work is ongoing which shall plug the discharge in 4-5 days and commissioning of a partial new trunk line by end of December 2022 shall resolve this issue permanently.
Khareband area
The Executive Engineer, WRD has stated that this discharge into the nullah is from households. The MMC has been directed to inspect and issue notices to the household that are discharging the same. Executive Engineer, SIDCGL has informed that a temporary arrangement of creating a filtering chamber by direction in the existing nullah and directing the same to the sewage treatment plant. This area is not yet under the sewage pipeline and a new project needs to be initiated for the same.
Saipem lake
The sewage water was seen flowing in an open drain. Executive Engineer, SIDCGL, however, has said the agency has proposed a temporary filtering chamber by a diversion in the existing nullah. Executive Engineer, SIDCGL has stated that the discharge issue shall be resolved by the commissioning of the new trunk line.
