TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: The introduction of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Ponda town and surrounding panchayat areas was initially welcomed by residents as a solution to safely treat and dispose off septic waste. However, even before the STPs are operational, sewage chambers are already recharging with groundwater, with water being pumped out to drain into gutters. Furthermore, these chambers overflow during the monsoon, raising concerns among locals about the feasibility of the project when it becomes fully operational.
In 2016, the government initiated the installation of STPs at Ponda, Curti, and Bandora to prevent sewage from flowing into water bodies. While work on the sewerage network and pipelines is ongoing, residents are worried about the project's viability, especially given the discovery of water in the sewage chambers during the dry season.
Ponda local Chandrakant Holkar, expressing his concerns, noted that the sewage chambers are already recharged with groundwater in the dry season and overflow with rainwater during the monsoon. He fears that when the STPs become operational, sewage may overflow into the surrounding areas, emitting a foul smell. He advocated for locating such plants away from residential areas.
Social worker Viraj Sapre highlighted the rich water resources in Ponda and the pollution of the main nullah by industrial, domestic, and market waste. He warned of potential water crises in the future and emphasised the need to protect water bodies from pollution. "The Water Resources Department should adopt proper measures to protect the natural water bodies in Ponda. Sewage chambers or treatment plants should not become another reason for pollution of our groundwater table and precious water bodies," asserted Sapre.
Labourer found in Curti sewage chamber died of drowning: Police
PONDA: The 50-year-old construction worker Hussain Shaikh, whose body was found in a large sewage pit at the Housing Board Colony in Curti, died due to drowning, said police on Tuesday. Ponda PSI Rashmi Baidkar confirmed that the case has been classified as a drowning incident, and that a case of unnatural death has been registered. The autopsy has been carried out.
Ponda social worker Virai Sapre has expressed deep concern over the worker's death. He urged the government to implement proper safety measures during development projects involving excavation, such as sewage and underground power cabling, to prevent such tragedies and protect the lives of workers and the general public. Sapre emphasised the necessity of using safety equipment and installing adequate barricades. He pointed out that Shaikh's drowning marks the third death at the construction site of the sewage chamber, stressing the urgency to complete the long-pending project, which has been ongoing for the past seven years.
