File photo of sewage water gushing out from a chamber behind the KTC bus stand, Margao.
MARGAO
Officials of the PWD, sewerage may find themselves in trouble over the sewage chamber behind the Margao KTC bus stand discharging raw sewage in the low-lying fields.
For, taking cognizance of the representation made by Fatorda-based citizen, Dr Ashish Kamat, the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao Jyoti Kumari has issued a memorandum directing the Salcete Mamlatdar to initiate proceedings under Section 133 of the CrPC in the matter for creating nuisance.
Action under Section 133 of the CrPC will set in motion the process to get the PWD, sewerage take the necessary measures and steps to abate the nuisance created by the sewage chamber.
PWD officials, however, pointed out that the department has already plugged the chamber from where sewage water had been gushing out into the adjoining low lying fields. “The department has plugged the leakage from the sewage chamber. We have intimated the Goa State Pollution Control Board about the action taken by the PWD”, a senior PWD official said, while saying the GSPCB officials have been invited to inspect the site.
The complainant Dr Ashish Kamat has been waging a battle over the last few months to get the sewage chamber plugged and stop the sewage water from flowing into the adjoining low-lying fields. The chamber was plugged over a month ago as part of the stop-gap measures, but the problem resurfaced again last month, prompting the complainant to knock the doors of the GSPCB and the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Margao for justice.
“The rampant discharge of sewage water from the chamber behind the KTC bus stand has posed nuisance and a health hazard to the residents. Farmers have stopped cultivating the crops and descend in the fields for fear of getting infected with skin disease”, he said, while promising to take the issue to the logical conclusion.
A senior PWD official, however, said that a permanent solution will come only after work on the replacement of the North Main line is completed by next year. “What we are doing for the moment are all temporary measures to abate the nuisance. But, the moment we try to resolve an issue at one place, the sewage comes out from another chamber in the damaged old line”, the official added.
