MARGAO
Town and Country Planning Minister, Vijai Sardesai on Monday laid the foundation stone for the sewerage network at Mungul at a cost of Rs 10 crore, but local residents raised apprehensions over the project, fearing that the project may turn Mungul into another Sirvodem, which today symbolizes sewage stink and stench.
A worried Sardesai rushed in to allay the apprehensions and concerns of Mungul residents by saying that the sewage network at Mungul, once completed, will be connected to the new north main l
Town and Country Planning Minister, Vijai Sardesai on Monday laid the foundation stone for the sewerage network at Mungul at a cost of Rs 10 crore, but local residents raised apprehensions over the project, fearing that the project may turn Mungul into another Sirvodem, which today symbolizes sewage stink and stench.
A worried Sardesai rushed in to allay the apprehensions and concerns of Mungul residents by saying that the sewage network at Mungul, once completed, will be connected to the new north main l
ine and not the damaged line. He further tried to reach out to the residents that all care will be taken at the pumping station, including making it a manned station and raising the height of the pumping station above the road level to prevent overflowing and sewage odour. At Davondem too, where the TCP Minister laid the foundation stone, local residents were apprehensive that the network, once completed will be linked to the damage line, but Sardesai reassured them that the line will be connected only to the new north main line sanctioned at a cost of Rs 90 crore.
"The doubts and concerns expressed by the residents are genuine. It only indicates that there's a trust deficit between the residents and the government. I had warned the government over this aspect because the damaged north main line had left the fields inundated and posed a health hazard to the residents," Sardesai later told the media.
Mungul residents in particular were apprehensive that since the area is low lying, sewage passing through the underground line may stagnate at the pumping station, emitting foul odour a la Sirvodem.
"Sirvodem symbolizes sewage sting and people do not want a similar situation at Mungul. We are told there will be a pumping station at Mungul, but it will be an unmanned one. The station must be of a bigger in size and should be over the road level to prevent overflowing," remarked a resident Cruz Fernandes, who said the sewerage project, if implemented properly, can help maintain cleanliness and protect the ground water.
Vijai, however, intervened to reassure the residents that the unmanned station can be made manned by deploying a PWD worker. He, however, told the PWD senior officials including Executive Engineer, Agnelo Barros and Assistant Engineer Ganesh Velip to answer all queries of the residents at the power point presentation scheduled later this week.
"All queries raised by the residents need to be answered by the PWD. They have raised some genuine concerns and I hope the PWD will allay the apprehensions during the presentation", the minister added.
He however, reassured that though work on the Mungul sewage network will commence soon, it will be connected to the Sirvodem STP only upon the completion of the north main line.
"The doubts and concerns expressed by the residents are genuine. It only indicates that there's a trust deficit between the residents and the government. I had warned the government over this aspect because the damaged north main line had left the fields inundated and posed a health hazard to the residents," Sardesai later told the media.
Mungul residents in particular were apprehensive that since the area is low lying, sewage passing through the underground line may stagnate at the pumping station, emitting foul odour a la Sirvodem.
"Sirvodem symbolizes sewage sting and people do not want a similar situation at Mungul. We are told there will be a pumping station at Mungul, but it will be an unmanned one. The station must be of a bigger in size and should be over the road level to prevent overflowing," remarked a resident Cruz Fernandes, who said the sewerage project, if implemented properly, can help maintain cleanliness and protect the ground water.
Vijai, however, intervened to reassure the residents that the unmanned station can be made manned by deploying a PWD worker. He, however, told the PWD senior officials including Executive Engineer, Agnelo Barros and Assistant Engineer Ganesh Velip to answer all queries of the residents at the power point presentation scheduled later this week.
"All queries raised by the residents need to be answered by the PWD. They have raised some genuine concerns and I hope the PWD will allay the apprehensions during the presentation", the minister added.
He however, reassured that though work on the Mungul sewage network will commence soon, it will be connected to the Sirvodem STP only upon the completion of the north main line.
