MARGAO
Stormwater nullahs in the commercial capital are craving attention, awaiting desilting by the authorities, with just a little over a fortnight to go for the monsoons to set in.
Desilting of the city's major stormwater nullahs is carried out every year by the Water Resources Department (WRD) ahead of the onset of the monsoons. In fact, the Margao Municipal Council restricts itself to the desilting of drains and gutters departmentally or by floating tenders.
With just a little over a fortnight to go for the arrival of the monsoons, questions are being raised about when exactly the WRD will kick start the desilting work at the major stormwater nullahs.
When The Goan tried to inquire into the matter, WRD officials pointed out that the department has set in motion the process to rope in contractors to execute the stormwater nullah desilting work.
“Tenders have been floated to take up the nullah desilting work in the Margao and Fatorda municipal areas of the city. The work order will be issued to the bidders after the completion of the tendering process,” sources said.
It is learnt that the stormwater nullah desilting work cost around Rs 30 lakh to the exchequer every year.
Most of the stormwater nullahs in the city either carry raw sewage water or have become waste dumping grounds.
Sources said the nullah desilting work should take place before the onset of monsoons, fearing the plastic and other waste dumped in the nullah may find its way into the adjoining river Sal which later joins the Arabian sea at Betul.
