MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council finds itself in a tight spot how to get the households in the migrant-inhabited Azad Nagar colony near the ESI hospital connect their households to the underground sewage line in order to channelize the waste water to the Margao Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) instead of the water finding its way to the Salpem lake at Navelim.
For, the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) has pointed out that agency has sanctioned the work of connecting the Azad Nagar colony to the sewerage line. The SIDCGL officials, however, has maintained that all the inhabitants of Azad Nagar are required to apply to the Corporation for release of the sewerage connections before they take up the work. In the event, the inhabitants do not apply to the Corporation for the sewerage connections, SIDCGL officials have told the Margao Municipal Council to issue notices to the households in the migrant colony to apply for the connection or go for disconnection of the water supply.
What has left the Margao Municipal Council, including Chief Officer Manuel Barretto a worried lot is that the Azad Nagar happens to be the stronghold of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat. Sources wondered whether the MMC officials dare issue notices to the Azad Nagar inhabitants to either apply for the sewerage connections or face disconnection of water supply when it is an open secret that the MLA enjoys sizeable hold over the area.
With the sewerage issue under the scanner of the High Court after a local resident of Navelim Antonio Alvares filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court over the contamination of the picturesque Salpem lake by the raw sewage discharged from Margao, the Margao Municipal babus only hope the Margao MLA would convince and persuade the Azad Nagar inhabitants to apply and go for the sewerage connection to save them from being pulled up by the Court.
The SIDCGL had taken up the work of connecting the Azad Nagar to the Margao STP after the petitioner Alvares made a submission in the High Court that though the toilet blocks at the migrant colony are connected to the STP line the waste water is flowing in the adjoining storm water nallah which later finds its way to the Salpem lake.
Interestingly, the PWD, Water supply had informed the Margao Municipality last year stating that the department has issued around 108 water connections to the Housing colony, though officials in private claim the number of water connections could be more than what was submitted by the PWD.
The SIDCGL official told the meeting of the sub-committee constituted by the Margao MLA Digambar Kamat that the Corporation has issued the work order to the contractor to execute the work of connecting Azad Nagar to the STP line. The official, however, has insisted that the households apply to the Corporation for the connections and the work would resume after the households pay the prescribed fees.
Sources in the know informed that the MMC officials has decided to take the matter with the Margao MLA to use his good offices with the Azad Nagar inhabitants to take the sewerage connection before the civic body is forced to crack the whip as per the High Court orders.
