MARGAO: Soon after the extensive report on Herald on August 30 on the crumbling sewage scene of Margao, several people from Margao have chosen to speak up about the issue.
Not just new, but old buildings of Margao too have exhausted their capacity of storing sewage and most of it is being let in to the rain water drains.
The urban health centre officials have, however, have pushed the blame on to the Margao Municipal Council and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA).
The Health Official Martha Fernandes while speaking to this correspondent said even though we give the NOC’s with respect to health to the commercial and residential projects, we are not the licensing authority.
That is done by the MMC, she said.
When asked whether they inspect the projects she affirmed that they get the files which are sent by the SGPDA. The PDA sends us an approved plan which we cross check with the project.
We have no powers to reject, she said.
The doctor also said that the sewerage department was also in the loop and issued the feasibility clearances to projects.
Some senior staff of the department also said there was no need for health to be kept in the loop as the MMC has its own sanitary section, as well as technical section, which can take care of all the factors.
In my area in Gogol almost all buildings are releasing sewage into the rainwater drains.
The septic tanks of all the buildings are full and the soil retaining capacity is also over, a Margao resident Orlando Pacheco said. There is no sign of commissioning of the sewage line till date and the condition is worsening with each passing day, he said.
To add to the mess, the road engineering of most of the streets of Margao are so bad that during rains all the sewage and filth comes on to the roads. The people of Margao have now begun to raise their voices against the problem and the local administration and the state government have been urged to act fast.
