ROQUE DIAS | NT
MARGAO
Even though the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has spent Rs 10 lakhs – Rs 40,000 in cleaning a total of five wells in each ward in Margao, the residents there are claiming that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money as the most of these wells continue to be polluted with the sewage seeping into the groundwater.
The civic body sanctioned funds in the month of April to each of the councillors for cleaning wells from their respective wards.
Sources informed that there are nearly 250 wells in the jurisdiction of the MMC, and added that forty percent of the wells were taken up for cleaning after the councillors’ demand was accepted during the council meeting, and it was agreed to clean 5 wells in each ward.
“The cleaning of wells is of no use, particularly in the Fatorda constituency, if the seepage of sewage is not stopped. This seepage of sewage is from the main north line that runs from Arlem to Khareband. Sewage leaks from chambers and is easily percolates into the groundwater, level of which goes down during the summer. The MMC and its councillors know that in this situation cleaning of wells will service no purpose,” said Savio Dias, a resident of Maddel. He added that people used to dump all sorts of waste into some of these wells.
Wells from Maddel, Ambhaji, Bollepaind, KTC area, Khareband, Comba etc are highly polluted with sewage finding its way into them.
The locals alleged that the Goa State Pollution Control Board, health officials, and other authorities paid no heed despite their complaints over sewage finding its way into the wells.
“Plug the sewage leakages and then go for cleaning of the wells. It is very important to know whether our wells are safe, and this has to be the first step in that direction,”said Francis Fernandes. The chief officer Y B Tavde confirmed that the wells from the MMC areas were cleaned utilizing the municipal funds.
“Yes, I agree that sewage enters few of the wells. Therefore, I have written to the WRD, highlighting the pleas of Margao residents. I am also going to write to the PWD to resolve the issue of sewage seepage so that Margao wells are maintained clean,” he added.
Interestingly, due to the leakage of sewage, the main north sewerage line has also posed problems at the under-construction South Goa District Hospital site.
The Minister for Town and Country Planning Vijai Sardesai had assured to resolve the issue after consulting the PWD Minister Ramkrishna
Dhavalikar.
