MARGAO
With Margao Municipal Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik unearthing the clandestine discharge of sewage water
from the Osia Commercial Complex into the Old Market storm-water drain, local MLA and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday mulled disconnection of water and power connections to the commercial complex if the units do not connect their septic
tanks to the underground sewerage line.
The TCP Minister along with the MMC Chief Officer, Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai and officials of the sewage department descended on the Osia Commercial Complex on Tuesday morning to get a clear picture of the sewage disposal by the commercial establishments. A high-level meeting of officials, including the District Collector South Dr Tariq Thomas, has been called again in the complex on Wednesday morning to set a deadline on the establishments in the Osia complex before cracking the whip against the violators.
Action against the commercial establishments in the Osia Commercial Complex has been contemplated after Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik noticed during the trimming of the Old Market traffic roundabout that sewage and waste water was being clandestinely discharged in the Old Market storm-water nullah in the dead of the night.
“I can say that this is a ticking time bomb. We are sitting on a health hazard of huge proportions. If these business establishments are holding the sewage and water during the day only to discharge late in the night under the cover of darkness, this is a flagrant violation of the rules. This has to stop immediately and I am determined to stop the nuisance and the health hazard,” Sardesai told the media after the inspection.
The TCP Minister pointed out that the Osia Commercial complex owner and the establishments will be given a deadline to connect their establishments to the underground sewage or face disconnection of water and power connections. Saying that the Osia Commercial Complex has been a beneficiary of FAR (floor area ratio) in the past, Sardesai said time has come to crack a whip against the flagrant violations in the complex. “I have also spoken to the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to depute a senior health official for tomorrow’s meeting so that the health department also initiates action against the erring units.”
