MAPUSA
The State government has decided to permanently shut down the sewerage system in one part of Mapusa city “ in Acoi and Kamarkhazan due to technical infeasibility caused by challenging topographical conditions.
The Public Works Department (PWD), under a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project, has sealed and decommissioned 36 manholes in the affected areas.
A PWD official explained that the decision followed extensive technical tests that revealed critical faults in the sewerage lines.
The region’s low-lying topography and high water table caused excessive water to enter the chambers, making it impossible to operate the sewerage system effectively.
Project Director of the JICA-funded initiative, Nitin Neurekar said, “The project was not ideal for Acoi and Kamarkhazan. Excess water entering the chambers hindered the operation of the sewerage treatment plant. This issue made the project unviable, necessitating its decommissioning.”
The move has sparked questions about the feasibility studies conducted prior to the project’s inception.
Residents of Acoi and Kamarkhazan had earlier raised concerns about potential groundwater contamination from leaks during trial runs of the sewerage treatment plant (STP).
Many feared that compromised chambers could pollute well water, a critical resource for the community.
Launched in 2013, the Rs 152.72-crore Mapusa sewerage project, designed to lay 38 kilometres of sewer pipelines across the town, has faced repeated delays. Despite over a decade of work, the project remains incomplete, with operational setbacks, including failed trial runs, delaying its commissioning.
The project was originally awarded to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd in 2012. The Acoi-Kamarkhazan segment’s failure has intensified scrutiny of the overall project.
While infrastructure such as manholes, inspection chambers, and the STP have been built, recurring issues raise doubts about the project’s execution and the effectiveness of its planning.
The decommissioning has left residents frustrated, as they demand accountability from authorities over the prolonged delays and apparent lapses in feasibility assessments.
The decision to shut down operations in these areas has also reignited concerns over groundwater safety, underscoring the need for transparent communication and a reevaluation of infrastructure planning in the region.
The JICA-funded project’s challenges reflect broader issues in infrastructure development, with calls growing louder for more robust feasibility studies and better implementation strategies to avoid similar setbacks in the future.
Sewerage plant set for launch in January
MAPUSA: With the problematic sewer lines in Acoi and Kamarkhazan sealed and decommissioned, the government plans to move forward with the commissioning of the sewerage treatment plant of Mapusa in the New Year, according to Nitin Neurekara, Project Director of the JICA-funded initiative under the Public Works Department (PWD).
“Initially, we will commission the line for Gaunsavaddo and then expand it phase-wise to cover the entire city of Mapusa,” Neurekar stated.
He confirmed that the sewerage treatment plant is expected to become operational by the end of January 2025.
Neurekar explained that excessive water flow from Acoi and Kamarkhazan had been a significant obstacle to the plant’s commissioning.
“By shutting down the problematic lines in these two areas, we can now proceed with starting the plant for other parts of the city,” he said.
