Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens who frequent the Osia Complex near the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) retail market in Margao are expressing mounting frustration over establishments releasing untreated sewage into the open. The practice has created significant health risks and raised serious concerns about public hygiene in the area.
Angry residents from Madel and Fatorda allege that several restaurants in the complex are operating without the required consent from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). These establishments are neither connected to the sewerage line nor equipped with the facility to treat sewage, they allege.
Local man Savio Fernandes said, “The sewage water is flowing out in the open and pooling on the street, making it difficult for people to walk through the area. The stench is unbearable, and it has become a common issue over the years. Yet, no action has been taken by the authorities against the businesses responsible for this public health nuisance,” he said.
Similarly, Pratik Naik, another citizen, pointed out the negligence of the Urban Health Centre and the Margao Municipal Council in addressing the issue.
“This is a bustling commercial hub, with hundreds of people coming here for shopping and to visit government offices in the Osia complex. It is surprising that no one has taken responsibility or action,” he stated. Citizens are now demanding that the Goa State Pollution Control Board conduct an inspection and take immediate action by sealing those establishments operating without the required environmental clearances.