GUILHERME ALMEIDA
Potable water is yet to flow through the PWD taps in the Commercial Capital’s densely populated Malbhat-Pajifond-Gandhi Market belt – the area hit by water contamination over the last 10 days. The incident has brought to the fore a host of issues ranging from water contamination to overflowing soak pits, water pipeline passing close to drains and through the sewage network.
If the water pipeline was damaged due to the excavation of a road to make way for an overflowing soak pit of the two-three hotels, the situation has only highlighted the haphazard laying of pipelines underground coupled with the absence of a duct or conduit system in the town. Not to mention of the total lack of coordination between the various agencies, be it the Margao Municipal Council, the PWD Roads Section, Sewerage and Water Supply when it comes to road digging.
In the instant case, the decades-old cement water pipeline passing along a storm water drain was damaged when the road was dug up to facilitate flow of soak pit water into the drain. Herald inquiries with PWD officials revealed that many water pipelines run parallel to the storm water drains across the city. Instances are galore wherein water pipelines pass right through sewage chambers in violation of norms, indicating the absence of not just ducts and conduits, but also coordination between the various agencies, including sewage and water supply.
A senior PWD official said that water contamination is indeed an eye opener to all the agencies that all is not well underground. “Thank God that water contamination did not result in serious health problems for the citizens when sewage water, sludge, plastic and other waste found its way into the water pipeline when it was damaged by a JCB,” a PWD official said.
While the incident triggered a blame game amongst the local politicos and officials alike, the serious question of lack of coordination amongst the agencies remains unanswered. It has come to light that the busy road was excavated in the presence of a PWD engineer and MMC officials without permission of the District Collector or the local civic body.
Sources said that when the water pipeline was damaged during the excavation, a good deal of sewage, sludge and waste found its way in the line before water supply officials were intimated about the breakdown. It was only after residents complained of sewage odour the next day that water supply officials launched the exercise to flush out the line, only to find sewage and plastic waste accumulated at the junction points.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said, “Underground lines are being laid in a haphazard manner. The situation is compounded by the fact that no plan is maintained of the lines laid underground. Unless, a plan is put in place by the agencies, it would be difficult to ascertain the location of cables, pipelines and sewerage passing underground.”
Water contamination is not new to the town. A couple of months ago, migrants inhabiting the Cine Lata area had complained of contamination of tap water. The problem was solved after the PWD replaced the pipeline passing through the drain.
