MARGAO
Even as a permanent solution to the burning issue of discharge of sewage and waste water into the storm water drains in the commercial capital has eluded the authorities, the Margao Municipal Council has submitted before the High Court that the civic body has issued notices to around 114 units, both households and commercial establishments to make necessary arrangements for soak pits and septic tanks within 30 days or face disconnection of water supply.
When the matter came up before the High Court in the Public Interest Litigation filed by Navelim villager Antonio Alvares, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar filed an affidavit in the court outlining the steps initiated by the civic body and other authorities in plugging the discharge of raw sewage and waste water in the drains.
In his affidavit, the Chief Officer submitted that the MMC has directed the 114 units to make necessary arrangements of providing septic tank and soak pit within 30 days so as to stop discharge of sewage waste in the drains. “The units have been told that if they failed to comply with the directions within the period of 30 days, the municipality would be forced to issue a letter to the electricity and water department to disconnect electricity and water supply to their respective units,” the affidavit stated.
The Chief Officer also made a submission to the High Court over the difficulties faced by the households in obtaining the sewage connections and the issues facing by the PWD, sewerage in laying the underground sewage line in view of the low-lying topography of the area around the Calcondem area of the city.In fact, the technical assistant of PWD WD XXI has pointed out that the inspection has revealed of constraints in providing connections in the areas like Malbhat and Calcondem where the area is totally congested and there is no place to lay the sewer lines.
In fact, the PWD has informed that the department has forwarded a report to the Head office to get the work executed by an expert agency.
