VASCO: Despite having made several complaints and having to bear the unbearable stench about the overflowing sewage from the storm drains, locals from Dhaktalem are upset that their woes have been ignored by the authorities concerned.
A video of the affected area has even gone viral.
Locals have complained that they not only are they forced to bear the stench, they have to walk past and face it also as they described the horrible conditions in which they have to live due to this unresolved issue. They blame the drains from the nearby residential area.
“The sewage water containing feces, and other household water flows down to the lower residential area from the upper side,” said a local.
Another local Rashid, said that many complaints were made to PWD department but the situation instead of improving has only taken a turn for the worse. He feared for what will be their fate of the residents in the lower area of Dhaktalem in the monsoons when the situation will further get aggravated.
Mormugao Municipality Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said that a joint inspection had been held on May 10 in Dhaktalem with the MMC technical staff and public health officials. “During this joint inspection, it was observed that sewage has been overflowing from the storm drains, following which, public notices were issued wherein the people concerned from the locality were asked to releasing of sewage water and to build their own soak pit. Time has been given to them to follow the instructions failing which, further course of action will be initiated, “said Fernandes.
Urban Health Officer of Vasco, Dr Rashmi Khandeparkar also told that during the inspection, irregularities including the overflowing sewage water were found. “Due to the uneven terrain it was difficult to identify the exact spot from where the sewage is coming. Providing proper civic amenities to the people is the responsibility of the municipality and the PWD department. We only can identify the violation and can issues notices,” she added.
PWD Assistant Engineer (Sewerage section), Thomas Landes, said that he has seen the sewage overflowing issue in Dhaktalem on the video which has been circulated on social media. “In the lower side of Dhaktalem there is no sewerage line of PWD. There is a need to identify the source from where the sewage comes” he added.
