Sewage in homes, official action is to point fingers

Panaji: The Smart City Mission continues to raise a stink in the state capital with sewage overflowing and entering residential areas and into open pits. While contractors haphazardly dig up the city to lay new sewerage lines, existing lines are often damaged.

With no proper supervision and monitoring, officials of the Smart City Mission wring their hands and point a finger at PWD and Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA). Though the sewerage network project is funded by the Smart City, officials including North Goa collector Mamu Hage are reluctant to hold anyone accountable or to pull up the contractors.

Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) officials say that they have written to PWD and GSUDA to “address the issues” and to ensure that the contractors are on site when pipes and trenches are dug up. Residents from Mala and Tonca have been complaining that the rampant digging has caused sewage and sludge to enter their homes.

“The sewage and the water remain stagnant for many days and the stench is unbearable,” said a Mala resident, Praveen Sutar. “In the dark, we cannot make out what is pooling up and people have put their legs into it.”

While the locals have been demanding action, IPSCDL officials have no answers. “We have told PWD and GSUDA to address the issues. Two days ago, they said someone had filled a chamber with mud. There are some small leakages,” said chief general manager Vijaykumar Honawad.

When TOI asked Honawad if any action will be taken against the contractors, he said that IPSCDL cannot take that call. “The contractors have signed contracts with PWD and GSUDA and these agencies have to take a call,” he said.

Meanwhile, another road at St Inez caved in under the weight of a night soil tanker. This is the tenth truck to be trapped by a cave-in because of the sewerage network project. Commuters were caught in a jam in the sweltering heat.


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