MAPUSA
In a decisive move, villagers in Verla Canca have united to halt illegal sewage dumping within their jurisdiction, resolving at the recent gram sabha to impose strict fines on offenders.
Concerns about unauthorised sewage disposal rocked the meeting on Sunday, as residents voiced frustration over worsening environmental and sanitation issues attributed to indiscriminate dumping practices.
The issue first surfaced when local resident Bhaburao Korgaonkar reported seeing a large tanker repeatedly dumping sewage waste on a hill in Ward 8. According to Korgaonkar, the tanker made several trips each week, raising questions about how such activities were permitted without oversight.
Villagers quickly focused their criticism on Vishwas Arlekar, the Ward 8 panchayat member, for allegedly allowing the practice to continue under the radar.
Arlekar defended his actions, claiming he had inspected the area and found the waste directed to a soak pit. However, this explanation did not satisfy many attendees.
Aishwarya Salgaonkar, a concerned villager, questioned why Arlekar conducted the inspection alone, without notifying other panchayat members. She suggested that such unapproved actions lacked legal standing and transparency.
Lincoln Braganza, another local, warned of potential environmental hazards posed by improper sewage treatment, which he said could seep into groundwater and pollute local wells.
Deputy Sarpanch Digambar Kalangutkar also raised concerns, questioning why sewage from outside Verla Canca was being disposed of in their village. Following these discussions, the gram sabha unanimously resolved to conduct a site inspection in Ward 8. The inspection team will include members from the biodiversity committee, village development committee (VDC), and health department, who will assess the environmental impact and verify the extent of illegal dumping.
The meeting also addressed broader sanitation issues after the Director of Panchayats encouraged an “Open Defecation Free” campaign in rural areas. Villagers reported that some residents, especially migrant workers, continue to use the hills for open defecation, while wastewater flows into local nullahs, worsening hygiene conditions.
Abigail Fernandes, a resident, voiced frustration, noting that while the panchayat occasionally cleans these areas, consistent solutions are needed to prevent waste from accumulating in open spaces.
An additional concern raised was that many toilets in the area lack proper sewage outlets, with some residents discharging waste directly into nearby water channels.
“The whole area stinks because of this issue,” one villager said, demanding panchayat intervention.
Consequently, the gram sabha agreed to carry out a comprehensive inspection to identify and curb open defecation and illegal littering with the involvement of health and environmental authorities, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
Further, the Deputy Sarpanch proposed securing 500 square metres of land from the local comunidade to build a material recovery shed for waste management.
He assured villagers that the panchayat would address concerns over roadside poultry shops and initiate road repairs promptly.
Complaints about road conditions led to a call for swift repairs, as villagers highlighted the daily inconvenience caused by deteriorating infrastructure.
Villager Zacharias Mendes also raised awareness about a proposed Rs 300 crore construction project, questioning whether Verla Canca’s infrastructure could handle the development.
Mendes called for future large-scale projects to be brought before the gram sabha to ensure community oversight and planning.
With the gram sabha’s new resolutions in place, Verla Canca’s villagers are determined to safeguard their environment and hold officials accountable for the area’s sanitation and development issues.
