MARGAO
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Deepak Pauskar on Tuesday announced that the long-pending Margao sewerage project will be commissioned in all respects by December 2021.
The PWD Minister was in the city on Tuesday for an inspection of an overflowing sewage chamber behind the KTC bus stand, when he told the media that the Sewerage Corporation and the PWD would coordinate the balance work on the replacement of the north mainline so that the work is completed in all respects by the year-end.
When the media drew his attention to the major fault detected on the stretch of the north mainline laid in front of the District Collectorate building, the PWD Minister said the contractor who had laid the line has been told to get it repaired.
He promised to call a joint meeting within a week’s time to set a deadline for the completion of the work.
The PWD Minister, however, did not agree with a suggestion from the media that the sewerage works launched at the hands of ex-Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar have remained incomplete for reasons best known to the government.
“It’s not true that this government has not taken the sewerage projects initiated by late Parrikar at Margo and Navelim to a logical conclusion. The works have been in progress and are being closely monitored. In Margao, we have set the deadline of December 2021 to complete the sewage works, including the laying and commissioning of the north mainline,” Pauskar said.
Reminding that the PWD as well as the Sewerage Corporation has spent huge funds on the Margao sewerage project, Pauskar asserted that all the sewerage works in the city will be completed as per schedule.
On the overflowing chamber behind the KTC bus stand raising a stink in the neighbourhood, the PWD Minister said PWD officials will attend to the problem on priority and promised to work out a temporary solution within two months.
“For a permanent solution to the overflowing sewerage chamber, we need to connect the line to the north mainline which is awaiting completion. We will find a temporary solution to the problem by clearing the blockage within two months,” he assured.
The north mainline sewerage project, estimated to cost close to Rs 100 crore, was launched by ex-Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar after he returned to power in 2017 with the support of Goa Forward Party.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had proposed replacement of the entire north mainline, linking Fatorda to the sewerage treatment plant at Sirvodem as the existing line was found damaged at several places and was discharging sewage in the low-lying fields and water bodies.
