VRISHANK MAHATME
vrishank@herald-goa.com
The release of sewage from a dormitory into the fields of Khumbharvaddo, Merces has irked locals who believe that it can lead to health hazards. They claim that it can not only invite various types of diseases but also pollute water bodies and destroy fields.
Locals say that few years back this property used to house a poultry farm which has now been transformed into a dormitory.
Speaking to Herald, a local resident Jose Joao, said “The dormitory is illegal which houses all the labourers. The problem is that the sewage is directly released into the fields causing pollution and damaging the water bodies and fields. Our association had complained to the Health Department regarding this discharge which leads to breeding of mosquitoes and also requested the health officer to be vigilant.”
“Now because of the onset of rains, the fields are completely submerged in water and the sewage is washed away. A site inspection was held recently by Dr Kedar Raikar from the Primary Health Centre, Corlim along with panchayat authorities in which locals also asked to initiate action to prevent further release of sewage,” said Joao.
Locals further highlighted that “Merces is going from bad to worse and the Panchayat body is only interested in giving construction licences to mega projects without studying the carrying capacity of village.”
“The rampant illegal filling of paddy fields with concrete is destroying the cultivation and due to this the village can get flooded as unplanned work is carried out. The ancestral topography of Merces village should be preserved and a village master plan has to be drawn for the village,” said locals.
