MARGAO
The health department has taken strong cognizance of the trench dug along the Konkan Railway track at Pedda-Khareband as it has virtually become a fertile breeding site for mosquitoes.
The moot question, however, remains unanswered “ will the Margao Municipal Council and the District Collector also take cognizance of the rampant discharge of waste water in the trench, posing a health hazard to the citizens
putting up on both sides of the railway tracks?
The issue has come under the scanner of the health department after Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Anju Kharangate dashed off a letter to the MMC Chief Officer with a copy to the District Collector, drawing their attention to the stagnant water along the wall opposite the La Flor hotel, which has turned into a breeding site for mosquitoes.
While asking the civic body to identify the source of the waste water discharge, the health officer has told the municipality in clear terms to abate the nuisance by taking preventive measures “I have personally inspected the area. The ground reality is that the waste water stagnation poses a nuisance and health hazard to citizens. The Chief Officer has been asked to instruct the ward councillors to see how best the nuisance is abated with the help of
technical people,” Dr Kharangate said.
She pointed out further that a slab lies dumped along the railway track which has further blocked the flow of the waste water. “If untreated for long, the site can be a major ground for breeding of mosquitoes,” she said, even as a copy of the letter has been marked to the District Collector for information.
The Goan had recently highlighted how the trench between La Flor hotel and the Cine Lata migrant colony was posing nuisance for the residents, besides being mosquito breeding site.
While the Konkan Railway and the Margao Municipal Council have been engaged in a blame game over the issue, locals say that a joint meeting of KRC and MMC officials, besides health officials, should be convened immediately by the District Collector to find out a permanent solution to the problem.
KRC has argued that the trench was dug up since the MMC had failed to clean up the storm-water nullah on the Khareband side, resulting in the water accumulation near the tracks opposite the La Flor hotel.
A resident living nearby said all they wanted was a permanent solution and citizens were not interested in any blame game. “Citizens on both sides of the railway track have been exposed to the waste water nuisance and the mosquito menace for several months now. Time has come to resolve the issue. There may be some solution. Let both the MMC and KRC come for a joint inspection to resolve the issue,” the resident told The Goan.
