the goan I network
MARGAO
A health hazard is staring at the residents of a migrant colony at Dicarpale with the storm water drains choked with sewage and waste water.
Amchem Goem, Amcho Lok convenor Felix Dias, who took up cudgels for the beleaguered residents, has demanded that the Davorlim panchayat as well as the Health department intervene immediately and give relief to the people and the children of the locality. “The drains are all choked with sewage and waste water. They have become the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, but the Health department has not intervened to stop the nuisance,” Felix stated.
The NGO also demanded to know that the authorities should find out the legal status of the residential houses and whether they have been built legally. “All these questions need to be looked into, including the question how the power connections were issued to the structures if they do not enjoy the legal status,” Felix added.
The residents pointed out that a health hazard is staring at them, even as they demanded immediate action from the authorities.
In the meantime, Davorlim sarpanch Bina Kulkarni told the media that panchayat members visited the site after Felix Dias lodged his complaint, adding that the site was inspected twice with the Health department. “We have told the households to build septic tanks and soakpits and not to release waste water in the storm water drains,” the sarpanch said.
She conceded that the drains have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, while issuing a warning that the panchayat would move for disconnection of their water and power if the households do no go for the septic tanks. The Sarpanch clarified that the households had obtained the power connections under the Health Act, making clear that the panchayat had no role in issuing NOCs for the Power department to issue the power connection.
