MARGAO
Margao Old Station Road, which plays host to the notorious Chor Bazar on Sundays, was back in the news again on Monday, but for a different reason.
A sewage manhole located right in the middle of the busy road spewed sewage, raising a stink, with the overflowing water flowing on the road and finding its way to the roadside drain. The entire locality was enveloped with sewage odour as the sewage manhole flowed non-stop, causing a nuisance and posing a health hazard to the people.
Social activist Sabita Mascarenhas cried foul over the overflowing sewage manhole, saying the state of affairs only goes to show the pathetic condition of the infrastructure in the city. “How can the authorities allow the sewage manhole to overflow and cause nuisance and a health hazard on a busy road?” Sabita questioned.
Insisting that the elected representatives as well as the officials inspect the site, she challenged them to stand at the spot for even a minute given the stinking environment. “While I found passers-by rushing on the road to avoid the nuisance, the shopkeepers were left with no option but to remain in their establishments. The authorities should immediately step in and stop the nuisance,” she said.
When The Goan called officials of the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa to shed light on the overflowing sewage manhole at Station Road, an official said the matter falls in the domain of the PWD sewerage department.
Incidentally, it is not uncommon to find sewage manholes resembling water fountains in the commercial capital during monsoons all across the city, indicating that all is not well with the underground sewage line.
In fact, come monsoons, the underground line and the two STPs almost run to capacity, with officials attributing the situation to rainwater infiltration into the underground line.
