Minister seeks engineer’s suspension
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho conducted a joint site inspection and sought immediate action, including suspension of the responsible engineer.
VASCO
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Monday stated that untreated sewage discharge into the Merces–Vaddem creek has led to severe pollution, with the water body turning black and emitting a foul stench, allegedly due to a poorly maintained and non-functional sewage pumping system.
Godinho conducted a joint site inspection and sought immediate action, including the suspension of the responsible engineer.
During the inspection, Godinho expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the creek, stating that routine pre-monsoon desilting had always ensured smooth water flow and prevented flooding in the past.
He said the present situation was alarming, with visible contamination and strong odour indicating direct sewage discharge into the water body.
Godinho pointed out that the sewage pumping station in the area was not functioning efficiently, with only one out of three pumps operational. He criticised the lack of supervision and accused the assistant engineer of negligence, stating that the official had failed to carry out regular inspections and remained unavailable despite repeated complaints.
He said he would take up the matter with higher authorities and push for the engineer’s suspension, holding him responsible for the worsening condition of the creek. He added that timely intervention could have prevented the situation from escalating to its current state.
The minister also directed officials to take urgent corrective steps, including restoring the non-functional pumps at the sewage pumping station and initiating immediate desilting of the creek to improve water flow and reduce contamination.
Highlighting long-term measures, Godinho instructed the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chief officer to revisit earlier survey data on household sewage connections. He suggested issuing a public notice to encourage residents to connect to the sewage network, warning that action could be taken against those who fail to do so despite having access to the system.
He maintained that coordinated efforts and accountability among officials were necessary to bring the situation under control, especially with the monsoon approaching. Immediate restoration of infrastructure and strict monitoring, he said, would be key to preventing further environmental damage and inconvenience to residents living in the vicinity of the creek.
