MAPUSA
Pointing to the substandard work carried out while setting up the sewerage network in coastal Calangute, former sarpanch of Calangute, Joseph Sequeira feared that once the project is commissioned it will spell disaster for tourism and drive residents out of the village.
He also said that due to the poor patchwork carried out by the PWD, most roads in the coastal village were sinking inconveniencing the pedestrians and the motorists.
According to Sequeira, several sewerage chambers were overflowing with rainwater exposing the poor quality of work carried out by the contractor.
He said the concerned authorities failed to supervise properly while the sewerage network was being laid in the coastal village.
“Calangute will start stinking once the sewerage network is commissioned as sewage water will start spilling out from the chambers,” Sequeira said, while addressing the media in his Calangute office.
“Tourism will be destroyed, but more importantly people from Calangute will have to leave the village as we won't be able to take the stink and dirty water will enter our houses,” he added.
He said, initially, he also rooted for the sewerage project as people were releasing sewage in the fields, roads and the sea which led to contamination.
The work on the sewerage project started in 2013 but has still not seen the light of the day. Opposition of the locals for setting up of pumping stations was one of the main reasons for delay in commissioning the project.
The former Calangute sarpanch said the road from Infantaria to Baga has caved in at many places due to shoddy work carried out by the concerned agency.
“People cannot move on the road and during an emergency one wouldn’t even be able to take an ambulance. Water and power services have also been disrupted due to the sinking of the roads,” he said.
He blamed local MLA Michael Lobo for the shoddy work of the sewerage network and the pitiable condition of the road in Baga.
“Lobo had promised to commission the sewerage network in 2017 but nothing happened. He also promised to de-notify the decision to set up a pumping station at Gaura-vaddo which is yet to be done,” Sequeira said.
