Daijiworld Media Network - Margao
Margao, May 3: Recent actions by the Margao police against illegal kutcha houses leased out to migrants have sparked a heated debate on how sewage and waste generated in these unauthorized hutments are being managed. With the issue under scrutiny in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Navelim citizen Prof. Antonio Alvares, the spotlight has fallen on the practices and oversight, or lack thereof, in dealing with waste disposal in these areas.
Investigations have revealed that the discovery of illegal hutments in Malbhat is merely the beginning. Officials suggest that similar structures exist across the city, raising concerns over the safe disposal of sewage and wastewater. Alarmingly, several of these hutments are located on embankments of stormwater nullahs that drain into the River Sal at Khareband. Some properties, including low-lying areas, have been converted into makeshift cubicles rented out to multiple tenants, yet are not connected to the underground sewerage system. Instead, wastewater is discharged into local drains, eventually contaminating the River Sal and other water bodies.
A recent inspection of the Malbhat area found that the owner of the illegal hutments had secured a single power and water connection, which was then illegally redistributed to the tenants. This raises significant questions about the oversight of authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), as well as the power and water supply departments, who failed to detect this illegal activity.
One official pointed out, “Just imagine the amount of waste generated in these 80 or so kutcha houses. Has anyone even inquired about how sewage and wastewater are being handled, especially when the High Court is monitoring sewage-related issues?”
Moreover, the MMC has yet to formulate a plan to identify all illegal hutments in the city that are not connected to the underground sewerage system, exacerbating the issue.
Sewage Management Measures for Margao's Densely Populated Areas
In related developments, the Core Committee tasked with monitoring sewage and wastewater management for commercial and residential areas has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Sewerage Department to explore the feasibility of vacuum technology for waste management in Margao's densely populated regions.
The PWD has been asked to prepare a detailed plan by May 15, highlighting the areas connected to the underground sewage system and those still excluded from it. The Core Committee, led by Margao Municipal Engineer Deepak Desai, also instructed the PWD to assess whether the 154 households that received notices for illegally disposing of wastewater into stormwater drains have complied with the directive to connect to the sewage network.
Although many of these households have claimed compliance, the Core Committee has requested a verification process to confirm whether the required connections have been made, underscoring the city's ongoing struggle with waste management and illegal construction.
As these issues unfold, authorities face mounting pressure to address the systemic failures in sewage management and to take swift action against unauthorized constructions that are contributing to the pollution of local water sources.