Tankers told to transport sewage to Vasco STP
The Sewage Treatment Plant at Sirvodem.
MARGAO
The pre-monsoon showers that lashed the state over a fortnight ago seemed to have had an adverse bearing on emptying septic tanks in Salcete, but for a different reason.
In fact, private sewage tankers, engaged by households to empty septic tanks, are not allowed to unload the sewage at the Sewage Treatment Plant at Sirvodem since the last 10 days.
While the sewage tanker owners have been told to transport the sewage to the Vasco sewage treatment plant as a temporary measure, officials say the private tankers were stopped from unloading sewage at the Sirvodem STP after the heavy rains inundated the pump house.
“After the heavy rains that lashed the state around 10 days ago, the pump house at the Sirvodem STP was flooded due to the rise in water. As a temporary measure, the private sewage tankers transporting sewage from the households were told to transport the sewage to the Vasco STP till the situation return to normal at Sirvodem”, the official said.
Private sewage tanker contractors told the media that Sewage Treatment Plant at Sirvodem, Navelim is not allowing sewage tankers to dispose of their waste without any notice for the past many days.
“The plant officials have not informed any reason and also not ready to inform when they will open the doors for the private tankers to unload the sewage at the Sirvodem plant”, a contractor pointed out.
He added: “This has created problems for local people in Salcete and South Goa. In cases where the septic tanks are full and overflowing, people do not get the private tankers due to the situation at the Sirvodem STP as the plant do not allow tankers to dispose of the sewage despite registration and valid receipts”.
Incidentally, an official wondered why the Sirvodem STP has not yet reopened the doors for the private tankers to dispose of the sewage at the plant, saying he would check up with officials manning the plant.
