Team Herald
VASCO: The Busy Bee English High School at Desterro is a good example of the indifferent attitude of PWD Sewage Department officials to the health of children.
The open space, which is used as playground, has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes due to a pool of sewage that has accumulated due to overflowing of sewage from the sewage line chambers located in the vicinity. Irked with the same, the residents of Desterro as well as the school management have demanded immediate action against the officials for failing to act on the repeated complaints on the overflowing of sewage from the chambers.
The residents complain that the problem of overflowing sewage is recurring every year and that despite lodging repeated oral as well as written complaints, the PWD officials have not heeded to their complaints; and the foul stench from the sewage is making life miserable for the residents who are also exposed to heath risk.
“The issue of overflowing of sewage from the sewage chambers connected to the PWD sewage line is an annual trouble, as during the rains the all the chambers start overflowing. However, this year the menace has increased manifolds, but PWD officials are deliberately turning a blind eye towards the menace for the reasons best known to them,” said a Desterro resident.
Similarly, serious concerns were also raised by the school management, who are now tired of writing letters to the officials concerned.
“First, the menace was restricted to roads and gutters. However, this year, the overflow of sewage water has entered into the ground opposite the school which has become a breeding point of mosquitoes,” said a school teacher.
“The school is using the ground for sports activities, but now the children cannot even play there as the whole ground has turned into a pool of sewage. We are taking all precautionary measures by not allowing the students to go out of school gate; but we cannot restrict mosquitoes from entering into the school,” he added.
Ironically, last year the area around Desterro had witnessed sudden outbreak of dengue fever and thus it is high time that the department concerned takes note of the menace and stops the sewage overflow, which is a health risk to the students as well as the locals.
