The promises made for the sewage management of Margao and the deadlines for the completion of the Sewage Treatment Plants have not been matching each other for the last five years. The JICA Sewage Treatment Plant of 7.5 MLD has been completed and the Sewerage Corporation Plant of 20 MLD is ready for inauguration. But sadly, unwarranted delays on the part of the execution agencies and the allied departments to even get the power connections on time have caused huge inconvenience to the people of Margao and Fatorda.
Margao is one of the most ancient towns of the state with a functional Camara or City Corporation from the early 19th century. The town has received bullets as well as flowers for its part in the freedom struggle and the right for a better living. The town may be shining now but it has been suffering due to the unending woes of garbage and releasing of sewage in the rainwater drains, water bodies, nallahs and the Sal river. Crores of rupees were spent on the dredging of the River Sal and its rejuvenation, but sadly nothing was done to curb the release of sewage into the river. River Sal which looked clean after dredging has now again turned murky.
The project of dredging and cleaning of the River Sal was actually planned in line with the sewage treatment plants of Margao, so that the dredging and the release of sewage into the river were stopped simultaneously. The two large sewerage treatment plants are ready and final touches to the buildings and machinery are underway. The lines for the sewage to travel to the plants have also been laid. The deadline for the JICA STP plant was set for March 2016 and for the Sewerage Corporation by June, by the former PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar. He had also promised to take action against those responsible for release of sewage into the river. Sadly, with the plants not ready and the election being held, there is no heed paid to the recurring sewage problem of the town and its suburbs.
Meanwhile the newly elected MLA of Fatorda and sworn-in Minister of Goa Vijai Sardessai has promised to put things in order as far as the sewage and garbage problems are concerned. Vijai, while speaking to media, said “Now that I have supported a Goenkarwadi Government, I will strive to do all good for the people on my part. My priority among all is the North Main Pipeline of sewage which is old and needs to be replaced. 90 crore rupees have been sanctioned for this work and an additional 30 crores is required by the Sewerage Corporation for the work. We will work towards the speedy completion of the work and ensure that the town and Fatorda do not suffer the sewage problem anymore.”
As a result of the delay in the infrastructure, the sewage of the town is now flowing into nallahs and rainwater drains. A major residential complex in Margao has been taken to task by the MMC for releasing sewage in the open. In addition to this, cases of sewage flowing out of the septic tanks and being released in rainwater drains and spreading in the open by the roadside have become common, causing a bad stink and nuisance to pedestrians.
In one case reported to the Municipality, sewage has been released into a drain leading towards the Borda main road. The people residing on this road have been helplessly complaining about the problem and the nuisance it has been creating for them. But a look around the area reveals that nearly 6 to 8 residential projects are coming up in the area, which may also face the issue of sewage disposal if the treatment plants don’t start functioning on time.
Not just on the outskirts, violations of sewage disposal have been happening right in the centre of the commercial town where sewage from a city hotel behind Raymonds Showroom in Margao has been flowing onto the footpath and parking areas here. The sewage has accumulated in front of the shops, raising filthy smell and attracting flies. The Sanitation Department of MMC has received the complaint but has failed to curb the problem. The Sanitation section said that the MMC engineers and officials give the licences to the commercial establishments on the basis of provision of sewage storage and disposal. If there is flow out that means that there is no proper system in place and then the Sanitation section is blamed.
The Chief Officer of the MMC, Y. B Tawde said, “We have taken necessary action against the accused in the release of sewage and have also held a review meeting with all the stake holders. The Plant officials have confirmed that the treatment plants will start soon. However we have issued notices to the violators and have ensured that they make a immediate provision for the same and solve the problem.”
