MARGAO
Asserting that he is seized of the issue of sewage flowing into the river Sal for want of an underground sewerage network in the commercial capital, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday has promised to complete the Margao sewerage project by the end of 2022 and stop the sewage flow into the river.
Cabral said he would move the government to make sewerage connections mandatory after the laying of the sewerage network, warning that the government would disconnect water and power connections to the households for discharging the sewage in the drains.
The minister has warned that he would move the District Collector to acquire land from private owners which is required to lay the sewerage line at some places.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a function in the city here on Tuesday, Cabral declined to comment on whether the PWD would address the sewerage issues plaguing the commercial capital and the river Sal before the monsoons. He said works which were started in 2012-13 are still dragging on in Margao and Fatorda, adding that he has drawn up a plan to complete the works before the year-end.
“I am monitoring the sewerage problem facing Margao, Fatorda and Navelim on a day to day basis. All I can say is that the sewerage network in the commercial capital will fall in place before the end of this year with the cooperation of the public”, he said.
He added: "If the rain Gods are kind to the State and the monsoons do not get extended, I can assure you the sewerage network will be in place by December-end. I want the cooperation of the local MLAs as well as the public to complete the project. People object to the line passing their side on the plea it will emanate foul odour, but we will address the issues by taking the people into confidence”.
Saying that several technical issues remain to be resolved, Cabral said he has accorded top priority to laying the sewerage line even by digging up the newly hot mixed roads.
On the Navelim sewage network, Cabral said a host of technical issues remains unresolved, adding that a pumping station with a generator needs to be set up at Mandopa village.
Officials on job to launch app which will help locate potholes, says Cabral
MARGAO:
Saying the PWD officials are on the job to come out with an app which would help locate the potholes and even the size of the potholes, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Tuesday said the PWD is working on the technology wherein people will have to apply via the app even for road cutting.
He further said that road hot-mixing and removal of the potholes have been adversely affected given the pre-monsoon showers that lased the State since last week. He, however, promised that the potholes will be removed wherever possible during the next few days before the arrival of the monsoons.
“We want to bring in the technology wherein people are made part of the whole system of removal of potholes. After the potholes are uploaded on the app, the empanelled contractors can then go about the work of removing them and restoring the roads", he added.
