PANJIM: A Portuguese-era well located adjacent to the compound wall of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim has turned into a garbage bin.
People, particularly tourists who are lacking civic sense have dumped water bottles, tetra packs, empty cigarettes and chips packets etc in the particular well; water is currently contaminated in it and is stinking.
The well was reportedly being used by the local community. It is uncapped which makes it easier for tourists and others to use it as a garbage dump or a bin. As the well is uncapped, it also poses a threat to visitors of the Church particularly children.
“On one hand, the entire state of Goa is fighting for Mhadei water and on the other authorities are neglecting ground water sources. This well is full of garbage. We fear an outbreak of waterborne diseases in the area. The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) should act as it is their duty to maintain such wells in the city,” Adv Rui Ferreira who lives within the vicinity of the Panjim Church said.
“I urge the CCP, health department, water resources department, tourism department and other concerned departments not to neglect such natural assets. It can be used by the public and also made a tourist attraction itself provided it is cleaned and painted and timely maintained. Authorities should wake up before the Panjim city becomes decayed,” Adv Rui Ferreira added.
Pedrito Fernandes, president of Confrarias of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim said that dustbins have been kept in and around the Church premises to ensure that tourists don’t litter but some of them throw water bottles and other plastic material everywhere.
“We used to draw water from this well using a pulley in a traditional way and we used to have baths. The present condition is pathetic. I don’t think that only tourists are throwing things in the well, it must be also the people who use the adjacent pavement to enter or exit the city,” Pedrito Fernandes said.
Deputy Mayor of CCP, Sanjeev Naik said that the technical cell of the City Corporation has been directed to clean and restore the historic well to its former glory.
“The maintenance of the particular well is done by CCP. We have given instructions to our concerned officials and workers to get it cleaned; it will be mostly done by this month-end. We will also put up a metal cover to prevent people from dumping garbage in the well and also for the safety of the visitors to the Church,” Sanjeev Naik said.
