PANJIM: Angered by the indiscriminate digging in Margao and frequent clogging of drains, former Margao Municipal Council chairperson Savio Coutinho has requested MMC to collect money from the departments which indulge in digging work, not only for repairs of roads, but even to clean the drains.
He argued that the municipality is always blamed for rampant destruction of roads and drains in the course of digging works undertaken by various departments. Coutinho informed that the PWD ensures that, prior to the commencement of any digging work, funds are collected for repairs of roads from department undertaking the digging work. He called on the MMC to collect amounts for the clearing of drains on similar lines. He suggested that this could be done in the form of a refundable deposit.
It is observed that in various parts of Margao, the work of laying of sewerage lines is in progress. In the course of the execution of this work, a lot of mud is dumped into the storm water drains. The contractors pump the sludge water into the drains, and all the silt is then deposited in the drains, thus choking them.
With the monsoons fast approaching, there is every likelihood of flooding due to the blocked drains. Moreover, the Margao Municipal Council, which has just about 15 workers, will not be able to complete the entire town drains cleaning operations within the 45 to 50 days remaining prior to the monsoons.
The MMC should take immediate steps to address this issue or they will be found napping when the monsoons set in, said Coutinho.
Coutinho said the Margao Municipal Council should begin pre-monsoon works immediately as there is a feeling that monsoons will arrive early in the State this year. He said it is better to be safe than sorry when the time comes.
