MARGAO
The Nessai Industrial Estate in Sao Jose de Areal came under the scanner of health and district authorities, with an inspection by the core group of the Task Force on vector borne diseases unearthing sorry state of affairs, including breeding sites in a couple of units housing scrapyards.
After the team, comprising of health officials, officials of the Salcete mamlatdar office and NGOs found that the drains of the units are all clogged with silt, with thick growth of vegetation and plants, the field officer has been told to take immediate action in the matter.
After the field officer pointed out that the IDC has floated a tender to clear the drains of the silt and waste, the health officials have called for urgent action by the IDC with the help of the workers employed at the scrapyards to clear the drains and clean the vegetation.
A health official pointed out that they have come across during the inspection that some of the units have been sublet and the workers employed there are using toilets without soakpits and septic tanks and the wastewater is discharged in the drains. “We have come across a number of breeding sites at these units. The IDC Field Officer says a tender has been floated to clear the clogged drains. But, we cannot wait for the tender to materialise since this is the time we have to be extremely careful. This is the transmission season for vector borne diseases. Today’s inspection has helped us to understand the situation and devise action,” the official said.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins said all seems not well at the units housing scrap and plastic waste at the industrial estate. He said the inspection report will go to the Health secretary and the district Collector for further action, underlining the need for the government agencies to initiate action.
When pointed out that inspections in the past have not helped to improve the situation at the Nessai IDC, Martins said the laws and the rules need to be amended to take the inspections to its logical conclusion.
