Margao briefs

With the commencement of pre-monsoon works in the town and cleaning of drains, the issue of water contamination is a major issue especially with no movement of work carried out at Sonsoddo post monsoons and leachate being a concern in the monsoons. The storm water drains from Monte hill and Moti Dongor are linked and connected to a nullah behind Multipurpose school and the same nullah is also networked to the agriculture fields of Borda and Fatorda bringing illegally connected sewerage lines from many households into the fields. The disposal of grease and oil from small eateries, gaddas, mechanics into fallow fields and ponds within Margao raises concerns of rusting pipes. Similarly residents from Modsai, Mungul and Seraulim point out to the diversion of water around Shirvoddem released from the sewerage plant which could be another possible threat of water contamination. TCP Minister and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai says the existing sewerage pipelines need to be penetrated with high end CCTV technology and need thorough checking and investigation to find the best possible way to deal with issues of contamination and breach of the sewerage lines.

The demand for reopening of the Government Printing Press Sales Counter has been demanded for quite some time.  The NGO GOACAN has written to the Government for the reopening of the sales counter in Margao for the benefit of consumers of South Goa District. 

GOACAN also requested that a special counter be arranged at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex, Margao on Thursday, March 29, 2018 before year ending to collect renewals of subscriptions for Goa Govt. Gazette print and email copy. The closure has inconvenienced the consumers who wish to purchase printed copies of various Acts & Rules, get copies of the Goa Govt. Gazette or even subscribe for the same. Consumers from Canacona, Quepem, Sanquem, Dharbandora and Salcete Talukas have to travel to Panjim for the purchase of these publications which were earlier available at the Margao Sales Counter. 

Students of Sanjay School Vasco were crowned Prince and Princess at the programme organised for children with special advantages at Chandor. Local MLA Clafasio Dias, along with neighbouring Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, were present.

While Nilesh Cabral said he would expedite the work of constructing a new premises for the Sanjay School at Curchorem, Clafasio thanked all the organisers for having the programme in his constituency. Sanjay School Porvorim won the group dancing competition. Vinita Fernandes of the Gujarati Samaj school was awarded the star performer award. Hanumant Bandivadar of Sanjay School Curchorem won the solo dancing competition. Saish Mapari of Sanjay School Curchorem topped the fancy dress competition

Around 50 workers of Sanofi India Ltd, affiliated to the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, a Shiv Sena affiliate, staged a peaceful demonstration outside the plant office at Margao opposite the District and Sessions Court recently. The workers were protesting against the anti-labour policies of the company and allegedly accused of harassing union members since they presented a charter of demands four years ago which has been partially acceded to only in February this year.

Margao Municipal Council has undertaken clearing of road side drains before the onset of monsoons but unfortunately as the cleared waste is kept by the roadside there is every danger of it slipping back in the drain thus making the whole exercise of cleaning them futile and a waste of money. This year the MMC has adopted a new system of undertaking the work in the 25 wards by dividing the 50 labourers into three teams. While there are two teams of 20 workers that clean up the drains, one team of 10 labourers are supposed to go with the two vehicles that are supposed to collect the cleared waste.

However, in the present exercise that is undertaken, for the last three days, it is observed that the vehicle does not come to collect the cleared waste which is left lying by the side of the gutters. The problem is the stray dogs while playing with the dirt dump it back in the drains from where it was removed and plastic and dry leaves get blown back in the drains by the winds.