MARGAO
The inordinate delay in implementing the vacuum sewerage system in the low-lying areas of the commercial capital, despite a 26-week deadline set by the High Court, appears to have stemmed primarily from the lack of timely financial approval from the government.
Submissions made by the Sewage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) before the High Court reveal that while the corporation had initiated the process to roll out the technology, it was unable to issue a work order to the successful bidder due to pending financial clearance.
Following the court’s directive, SIDCGL floated the tender on October 13, 2025, with the deadline for bid submissions set for November 10, 2025. The technical bids were opened the next day. Although the corporation maintains that the tendering process was completed in all respects by November 2025, the project remained stalled for several months thereafter.
It was only early this year that the necessary financial approval was granted by the government, allowing SIDCGL to finally issue the work order and move ahead with implementation.
While the Khareband project has now secured financial clearance and work has commenced, concerns remain over whether similar approvals have been granted for proposed projects in other low-lying areas such as Malbhat and Gandhi Market.
