Team Herald
MARGAO: The people of Navelim continue to endure hardships and dread the approaching monsoon, as the government has failed to complete crucial sewage network works in the area.
The villagers are now expressing their anger and frustration over the lackadaisical functioning of the Sewerage Department. Several years have passed since the department began laying the sewage pipeline, but the task remains unfinished.
Further investigation has revealed that the contracted party is yet to construct several pump houses and manholes at crucial locations, such as Nagmoddem, Telaulim, Mandop, Aquem-Baixo, and Davorlim. This delay has resulted in the inability to provide sewage connections to the households.
Moreover, it has come to light that the soak pits of toilets in Navelim are continuously overflowing, leading to the flow of sewage into the nullahs that ultimately find their way into the River Sal.
During his visit to the area in December 2022, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral had assured that all the works pertaining to the sewage pipeline would be completed by April 2023, with households receiving sewage connections from May onwards. Shockingly, as May nears its end, there is no sign of sewage connections being established in the Navelim constituency.
Arvind Tengse, a resident of Navelim, expressed his frustration to O Heraldo, blaming the Sewerage Department for their lethargic approach. “Villagers continue to face hardships due to the government’s failure. It seems there is no seriousness or proper planning to ensure timely completion of the works,” he alleged. Furthermore, villagers fear that the roads dug up to lay the sewage pipeline will cause inconvenience to commuters during the upcoming monsoon season.
Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar acknowledged that the work on the sewage network is far from complete. “Several manholes still need to be constructed at different locations, which is preventing sewage connections to households,” he stated. He also informed that work has been delayed due to a contractor abandoning the job midway and objections from a faction
of villagers.
MLA Tuenkar disclosed, “The Sewerage Department has assigned the remaining works to another agency, and the construction of manholes has recommenced. I am personally monitoring the progress at regular intervals.”
He further mentioned
that it will take additional time to complete the sewerage network works in Navelim constituency. Engineer Dattraj Pai from the PWD commented on the ongoing situation, saying, “Yes, work is in progress at various locations regarding the laying of the sewage pipeline and construction of manholes. Practical difficulties encountered during the process have caused delays in completing the task.”
