Council initiates major exercise to dispose of proceedings against 317 establishments for discharging waste into drains; braces up to file affidavit on steps initiated
Residents of Nagmodem-Navelim have claimed that the area excavated to lay a sewage chamber has been sinking.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
With the civic body coming under the close scrutiny from the High Court in the Salpem Lake contamination case, the Margao Municipal Council has initiated a major exercise to dispose of proceedings against 317 establishments — 163 commercial and 154 residential — for discharging waste and sewage into the drains.
The MMC came under the High Court scanner after the Amicus Curiae drew attention of the Court that there’s no compliance of the Court’s directions which specifically expected the Margao Municipal Council to ensure compliance.
At the last date of hearing, the High Court had observed that specific direction was issued to the Margao Municipal Council to take steps in order to implement the orders issued regarding closure of various establishments. The MMC counsel, however, sought time to place on record the updated report in this regard, informing the Court that proceedings were initiated against 317 establishments which included 163 commercial establishments and 154 residential houses.
In reply, the Amicus Curiae, however, drew attention of the Court that these proceedings have not been taken to its culmination, prompting the MMC Counsel to request for some time to file an affidavit specifically for reporting the status of the show cause notices.
“We request him to file composite affidavits dealing with both the aspects within a period of one week from today,” the court stated.
Based on the Court’s directives, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz has started hearings in the 154 cases pertaining to the residential houses, identified by the civic body for discharging waste and sewage water in the storm water drains.
The million dollar question that may come to haunt the Margao Municipal Council is – how the civic body will go about the matter pertaining to the 154 residential premises. For, many of these residential houses are located in Malbhat, Calconda, besides other areas which have no underground sewage facility.
Sources informed that the PWD, Sewerage had in the past recommended vacuum technology to lay the underground sewage in densely populated areas of the commercial capital, where the conventional underground line could not be laid for want of space, but in vain.
As the next date of hearing in the Salpem lake PIL filed by Navelim citizen Prof Antonio Alvares is scheduled to come up on April 15, sources said the MMC is bracing up to file an affidavit on the steps initiated by the civic body in respect of the 317 establishments, including the 154 residential houses.
PDA promises temporary soak pits in 10 days; sewerage line for PDA market in 120 days
MARGAO: Even as the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) submitted before the High Court that work on the temporary soak pits will be complete within 10 days, the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd has stated that a sewerage line will be in place in the SGPDA market within 120 days.
In fact, the Counsel representing the Sewerage Corporation made a statement in the High Court vis-à-vis the tender notice issued floated on February 17, 2025 for providing, laying, testing and commissioning of sewerage network by trench-less method, including the construction of manholes, pumping station at the market at Fatorda, that the Corporation has already issued work order on March 17, with 120 days of completion period.
The aforesaid statements are taken on record.
Land excavated for sewage chamber is sinking: Nagmodem-Navelim residents
MARGAO: Even as hopes have been raised that the Navelim sewerage line will be finally commissioned by the government, local residents of Nagmodem pointed out that the land excavated near the western bypass underpass to lay a sewage chamber is sinking.
