A traffic cone placed at the overflowing sewage chamber to alert motorists of the dangers ahead.
MARGAO
Sewage stink raised its ugly head in the heart of the commercial capital, in and around the Margao Municipal building as visitors to the city had to grapple with sewage odour, once again bringing to the fore the plight of citizens and the failure of the authorities to plug the rainwater infiltration into the Margao underground sewage line.
Otherwise, consider this. Exactly a week ago on July 8, the sewage chamber on the main road behind the Margao Municipal building overflowed with rainwater mixed with sewage. The sewage chambers on the Margao Municipal building pavement right in front of the shrine of Our Lady of Vailankani overflowed with sewage water.
After the issue was highlighted by 'The Goan', Margao Municipal Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar dashed off a letter to the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd, (SIDCGL) and the PWD, demanding immediate action to remove the blockages of the overflowing sewage chambers.
A week down the line on July 9, a traffic cone was kept at the overflowing sewage chamber behind the MMC building to alert motorists of the danger ahead. No signage has been installed at the chamber site, cautioning the motorists as well as pedestrians that the water gushing out of the sewage chamber is rainwater mixed with sewage.
While unsuspecting pedestrians have been going about their routine chores unmindful of the fact that the water gushing out of the chamber is rainwater mixed with sewage, the ground reality has only brought to the fore the question that all isn’t well with the Margao underground sewage line.
That’s not all. While it’s not uncommon to find overflowing sewage chambers in Margao resembling water fountains during the monsoons, questions are raised about what action has the SIDCGL and the PWD taken all these years to rectify the fault and stop the rainwater infiltration into the underground line.
It’s a sheer coincidence that when the House was in Session last year, the pavement of the Margao Municipal building was strewn with sewage for close to a month. It was only after the issue was raised on the floor of the House that the Margao Municipality acted by barricading the pavement.
While the MMC had barricaded the pavement and cleaned up the sewage deposited on it last year, the civic body may have to grapple with another issue this time round – how to contain the sewage odour that pervades around the pavement and roadside with the sewage chambers again overflowing.
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Rainwater mixed with sewage inundated the pavement of the Margao Municipal building in front of the shrine of Our Lady of Vailankani again.
SIDCGL, PWD asked to inspect,
repair faulty underground line
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council has said that the continuous overflow of the sewage chambers (manholes) has not only created insanitary conditions but also risks of environmental pollution and the spread of diseases.
In a letter addressed to the SIDCGL Managing Director and the PWD Executive Engineer on July 9, MMC Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar insisted that it is crucial that immediate action is taken to address the burning issue.
In his letter, the MMC Chief Officer drew attention to the issue of the blockages of the sewage chamber near the Margao Municipal building and the surrounding locality, which have resulted in frequent overflow and spillage of sewage on the roads. “This situation poses a health hazard and inconveniences the residents and commuters alike,” he stated.
The Chief Officer suggested the SIDCGL and the PWD conduct a thorough inspection of the underground line to identify the blockages, resulting in an overflow of sewage on the road, and take necessary measures to remove such blockages from the sewage chambers and restore their proper functioning. “Also, initiate preventive measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future,” he added.
