THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Beleaguered residents of Madel will hold a protest on the Margao-Colva road on October 14-15 coinciding with the two-day BRICS summit to highlight and expose negligent departments and the Goa government for rampant discharge of raw sewage waste in the storm water nullah at the old market.
The residents led by Savio Dias have written to the police and the authorities informing them about the protest and their plan to erect banners and boards on the Margao-Colva road with the permission of the Margao Municipal Council.
He pointed out that the government and the sewerage department have miserably failed to stop or control the raw sewerage release in Margao and Fatorda. “It is not true that the Executive Engineer of sewerage department has informed us about the progress of the commissioning of the sewage treatment plants at Shirvodem, Navelim. Till date we do not know anything. And even by commissioning the STP the problem faced by the public in general cannot be solved as there is no sewerage line laid to carry the sewage waste from the areas of Margao and Fatorda,” he said.
He said there are several points at Maddel, Old Market, Comba, Khareband and Fatorda where sewage is released by the sewerage department into open drains and nullahs with no concern for public health and well-being. The sites are open health hazards,” he added.
“Despite the affidavit sworn in the High Court, the Executive Engineer of the sewerage department has failed to curb and stop the menace. It is crystal clear that the EE and the government are playing with the lives of the general public,” Savio added.
Hoping that the authorities will initiate necessary action in the mater, Savio sought permission from the authorities to hold the public protest in view of the grave injustice and threat of an epidemic. “We still hope that the Sewerage Department, the District Administration and the State Government of Goa act in public interest and stop the health hazards and public nuisance caused due to the untreated and raw sewerage released by their own agencies and justice will prevail,” he added.
