NAVELIM: The constituency of Navelim has emerged as a prime location for residential complexes as well commercial establishments. However, on the flip side, the burden on infrastructure requirements such as water and electricity supply issues while the release of sewage water in the open, is yet to be resolved.
Navelim Constituency has a voter base of around 29,000 that is spread out in the five villages of Aquem-Baixo, Rumdamol, Navelim, Telaulim and Davorlim.
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Various citizen and farmer-centric forums have highlighted the various issues that need urgent attention of the government.
One such forum is the Navelim Civic & Consumer Forum (NCCF), which felt that because Navelim is the immediate neighbour of Margao city, the commercial capital of Goa; it bears the direct brunt of garbage and sewage.
Very large quantity of treated water from two Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) of Sirvodem, Navelim is also being wasted by the government as it is being released into the open fields and nullahs in Margao.
“Sewage waters from most of the buildings in Margao, keep flowing via the storm water drains (now covered with concrete slabs) into the tributary of River Sal flowing through Navelim/Aquem-Baixo/ Davorlim/Telaulim and also into the Saipem Tollem. Thereby destroying our river and rendering the fields uncultivable,” said Joseph L R Vaz, NCCF Secretary.
Locals have held meetings in the past where they have demanded that all the pollution including sewage flowing into Salpem Tollem fields be stopped and action to be taken against those responsible for it. They had further demanded compensation for the affected farmers since the fields have been devastated by sewage.
The new buildings and the number of well-sought after educational institutions have also created traffic problems. NCCF members point out that the absence of a proper bypass for Margao has added to the chaos. The need for better traffic management has been the demand of many residents.
“Lots of fatal accidents keep taking place, since the heavy interstate traffic moves through the heart of Navelim. Even the ongoing Western bypass is badly designed. The Eastern bypass too is left incomplete,” Joseph added.
