Authorities dragging their feet in desilting, clearing waste from nullahs
MARGAO
Stormwater nullahs are meant for the quick drainage of rain water to prevent water-logging and inundation during the monsoon season.
Welcome to the commercial capital, where the stormwater nullahs have attained notoriety as these water channels have become the perennial source of water, carrying sewage and waste water, which finally finds its way into the River Sal.
A case in point is the SGPDA market nullah and the Old Market, and not to mention other nullahs such as the Kudchadkar nullah and the Comba nullah carrying sewage and waste water round the year. Every year, the Water Resources Department carries out the exercise of desilting the nullahs at a great cost on the eve of monsoons, only to play host to sewage and other waste rest of the year.
SGPDA nullah stagnated, emanates foul odour
Hundreds of Sunday shoppers to the SGPDA retail market were greeted with foul odour right at the entrance on the Opinion Poll square. Reason: The culvert at the market entrance played host to thick black stagnated waters, which locals pointed out is either waste flowing from the market. The foul odour was unbearable during the morning session as the stagnant water, which many suspect could be sewage mixed with waste water.
A shopper from Fatorda, Alison Morenas said foul odour enveloped the market entrance when shoppers came to the retail market for the Sunday shopping. He said some of the shoppers casually took a look at the storm water nullah from the culvert and it was horrifying to see the stagnant waste water rotting in the water channel. “The Margao Municipal Council or the Water Resources Department should take a look at the storm water nullahs and initiate action. If they have plans to desilt the nullahs on the eve of the ensuing monsoons, the least the authorities could do is to spray some chemicals to de-contaminate the water and cap the foul odour,” he said.
Another shopper added: “This is a market place and such an unhygienic environment at the market periphery does not augur well for the PDA market, considered a mega retail market in the State.”
Incidentally, former South Goa district Collector Jyoti Kumari had around two months ago issued directions to the SGPDA to stop the flow of water into the nullah and clear the piled up waste from the market.
The less said the better on the nearby nullah carrying sewage water near the Old Market circle, which later finds its way into the River Sal.
Old Market nullah becomes waste dumping ground
A look at the Old Market nullah revealed the pathetic condition, with the nullah not only playing host to water, but has literally become a waste dumping ground. A stop near the nullah at the Old Court building would bring out the startling fact that the portion at the culvert has become a waste dumping site. The site might not have been on the radar of the Margao Municipal Council as a garbage dark spot since the waste is being dumped right into the nullah.
Plastic bags, water bottles et al have accumulated at the culvert near the old Court building. Whether the area falls in the domain of the Margao Municipality or not remains unknown, but one question that has come to the fore is that none of the authorities have deemed fit to lift away the waste dumped in the nullah. And, whether the authorities are waiting for the rains to flush the sewage and plastic waste into the river Sal.
Azad Nagar colony waste water enters into nullah
A solution to the deadlock over the connections of the houses at the migrant colony to the underground sewerage line has eluded the authorities till date. For, the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd (SIDCGL) is waiting for the residents of Azad Nagar migrant colony to apply to connect their houses to the underground sewerage line. In fact, the SIDCGL has told the Margao Municipal Council to start issuing notices to the Azad Nagar houses to take the sewerage connection or face disconnection. The MMC is apparently dragging its feet for the simple reason that action in the form of disconnection notices may invite the wrath of the powers that be.
As the stalemate continues, waste water generated by the 100-odd houses at the Azad Nagar colony finds its way into the adjoining storm water nullah that later connects the Kudchadkar nullah which empties into the Salpem lake. The public toilet blocks located in the colony, however are connected to the underground line.
The Azad Nagar colony has come under the MMC scanner after the petitioner in the High Court Antonio Alvares had drawn attention of the Court as well as the authorities that the waste water from the colony is flowing into the Kudchadkar nullah. Inquiries later conducted by the MMC revealed that the PWD has issued around 140-odd individual water connections to the houses in the colony.
