PANJIM: The stretch of road extending from Caculo Mall to the culvert near Tonca Sewage Treatment Plant in Tonca, Panjim, faces a serious issue: the drainage system is obstructed by mud and HDPE sewerage pipes dumped onto it. Consequently, the water from ongoing manhole construction is unable to flow freely, resulting in stagnant, blackish-green water filling the drains.
This stagnant water has transformed the drains into potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, evident from the abundance of larvae observed within them. Local residents are deeply concerned about this drainage blockage, fearing a surge in cases of dengue and malaria in the area and have appealed to the health department to implement preventive measures.
They have also implored the Smart City officials and contractors to expedite the clearing of the drainage system.
Presently, work is underway to lay HDPE sewerage pipelines along this road, utilizing the trenchless method of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), alongside the construction of manholes. Six dedicated teams are deployed to ensure timely completion of these tasks.
According to the latest update from IPSCDL, the progress of road construction stood at 15% on October 1, 2023, surged to 45% by January 18, 2024, and has now advanced to 60% as of February 19, 2024.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation regarding the disorderly and incomplete Smart City projects in Panjim, a panel of judges from the Bombay High Court at Goa has decided to conduct a personal inspection of the ongoing works on the ground, scheduled for April 1.
