OLD GOA
Even as a joint meeting of local MLA, panchayat authorities, health officials, and PWD officials along with some locals was held on Tuesday to chalk out the way forward on water contamination at Dongrim, it was highlighted the need to stop sewage release in the drains and to build soakpits.
The meeting was held in the Mandur panchayat hall and was headed by local MLA Viresh Borkar in the presence of sarpanch Prashant Naik, Corlim PHC CMO Dr Kedar Raikar, and others.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Raikar pointed out how his staff came to know of sewage being released in the drains.
“My staff has noted down the names of the households who are releasing sewage in the drains and notices will be issued to them to build soakpits,” Dr Raikar informed, while adding that if the release of sewage is not addressed then the water contamination will reoccur in the near future.
MLA Viresh Borkar said that he has spoken to the panchayat authorities over the construction of soakpits through MGNREGA scheme.
“But, it will take some time as there is a lack of space in some houses which are located very close to each other,” the MLA said.
Some locals too voiced their reservation over the building of soakpits as they informed that their houses were built by their forefathers with no provision for soakpits.
“Now suddenly if we are asked to build soakpits it will be difficult for us,” a local Raju Kuttikar said.
However, AAP leader Ramrao Wagh suggested that community soakpits could be built wherein a cluster of households come together and build a common soakpit.
Meanwhile, the PWD officials informed that reports of two water samples which were taken from the affected area have found no contamination.
But, Subham Kuttikar son of complainant Ramkrishna Kuttikar, informed that the report of their water sample is not declared as yet.
It may be recalled that Ramkrishna Kuttikar had complained to the Corlim PHC about three members of his family falling ill due to consumption of contaminated water.
Locals demand resumption of water supply
OLD GOA: The stoppage of water supply to Dhaktem Bhat-Dongrim due to water contamination has not gone down well with some locals who have now demanded that the supply should be resumed at the earliest as they cannot survive without water.
Speaking at the meeting, one of the locals pointed out that access to water is their fundamental right and nobody can deny water to them. “On what basis was the water supply disconnected? Was there any order from the Collector? Did anyone die after consuming the water?” the local questioned.
The local further opined that those who do not want to consume the water should not consume it, but they are willing to consume the same. However, the authorities informed that the water supply would be resumed after the report of the water sample collected by health officials is available.
“The report will be available by Wednesday afternoon and if that report is clear, then the water supply would be resumed,” one of the officials informed.
