MAPUSA
The sewage water that had been overflowing onto a public road in the heart of Mapusa, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and posing a serious health hazard, has been traced to a private building in the area.
Following an inspection on Monday, officials are expected to issue a notice to the building concerned for allegedly releasing sewage into the public drain.
The sewage overflow had become a major nuisance along the busy stretch, which is frequented by people visiting the State Bank of India branch in the area. The situation also caused considerable hardship to parents and schoolchildren, who were forced to negotiate the sewage-filled road while entering or leaving a nearby school.
Parents arriving to drop off and pick up their children during school hours reportedly faced difficulty crossing the stretch due to the continuous flow of sewage water.
The issue came to light after GOACAN lodged a complaint with the authorities. Acting on the complaint, the Mapusa Municipal Council opened up the entire drain along the road a couple of days ago to ascertain the cause of the overflow.
During an inspection of the site on Monday, carried out by the civic body along with health officials and representatives of other departments, it was found that sewage water from a private building was being discharged into the drain. The discharge was subsequently overflowing onto the public road.
GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins said the Mapusa Municipal Council chief officer had personally witnessed the sewage overflow and was expected to issue a notice to the building concerned.
“Such things are happening all over Goa. Whenever sewage water is found flowing onto a public road, people should remember two authorities — the municipality or panchayat, and the urban health centre or primary health centre. Complaints should be made to these departments,” Martins said.
He said the practice of releasing sewage into open public drains was illegal and that action could be initiated against those responsible.
Martins urged citizens to remain vigilant and be aware of their rights so that they can approach the appropriate authorities and hold them accountable for addressing sanitation-related problems.
The incident has also raised concerns over the need for stricter monitoring of sewage disposal practices in densely populated areas of Mapusa, particularly along roads used heavily by pedestrians and schoolchildren.
