MARGAO: The people of Navelim constituency have expressed anger over the lethargic functioning of the Sewerage Department, that began the work of laying the sewage pipeline six years ago, but is yet to complete the task.
Not only have the people of the constituency yet to receive sewerage connections, but say they are inconvenienced on a daily basis, by the dug-up roads due to the ongoing works. In a fresh assurance, Minister for the Public Works Department Nilesh Cabral said that all works pertaining to the sewage pipeline would be completed by April 2023, and sewage connections would be given to households from May onwards.
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On Thursday, Minister for the Public Works Department Nilesh Cabral conducted a site inspection at Nagmoddem, Navelim, after receiving complaints from the citizens and local MLA Ulhas Tuenkar. During the inspection, Cabral took the sewerage department officials and contractor to task for the slow pace of work.
Speaking to reporters, Cabral said, “This sewage pipeline has been under construction for over six years now. All work, including the laying of sewage pipelines, construction of manholes and pumping houses will be completed by April 2023, and from May, connections will be given. The Department has also decided to start accepting applications for sewage connections online. In the initial stage, residents will not be charged for the connections but the fees will later be recovered through the water bills,” said Cabral.
Stating that the work will be monitored on a regular basis, he said the Department wants to issue connections to homes at the earliest, as the release of sewage into the nullahs and River Sal has become a serious issue.
Navelim MLA Ulash Tuenkar said that several citizens of Navelim constituency complained about the hardships they faced due to the ongoing works.
“Six years after the work began, not a single household in the area has managed to obtain a sewage connection yet. Years have passed and the department is yet to complete the work of the micro tunnel at Nagmoddem, besides construction of manholes,” said Arvind Tengse, a local from Navelim.
