MAPUSA
In a move to curb the menace of discharging sewage on the streets in the coastal village of Calangute, the local panchayat has warned of issuing stiff penalties against the offenders.
Two days ago the Calangute panchayat imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 against a hotel for discharging sewage water on the road at Kobra-vaddo, Calangute.
“We are warning people not to leave sewage on roads or public places because it causes nuisance to people. Calangute is a tourist spot and people including the tourists are forced to walk through the overflowing sewage which is not appropriate,” said Joseph Sequeira, Sarpanch of Calangute.
He said some months ago the same hotel was issued a notice not to release sewage on the road. The health department had also issued a notice to the hotel against the offense.
“This hotel has been a repeated offender. Earlier we had sent notices to the owner but they continued to discharge the sewage on the road. We had no alternative but impose the fine,” the sarpanch said.
He said the panchayat secretary along with the ward member Sapnesh Vaigankar conducted an inspection of the area and later issued a fine to the hotel management.
“We are not going to tolerate nuisance in our village. If any wrong is done strict action will be taken and this is like a learning experience for all hoteliers. This is a small message to everyone,” said Sapnesh Vaigankar, panchayat member.
Illegal diversion of residential sewage water into the gutters is an issue in many panchayat and municipal areas in the State.
Even when there is no rain, the drains are full of waste water released by residents and commercial units.
A sewerage pipeline network has been constructed in Calangute and the sewage treatment plant has also been set up. However, the work has remained pending only because of issues of setting up of a pumping station in one of the wards.
The contract to lay a sewerage line in Mapusa and along the Calangute-Baga coastal belt was awarded to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd at a cost of Rs 152.72 crore and work on the project had begun in 2013.
