The Goan Network
Panjim
Concerned about the foul odour that has been emanating from Fontainhas around the new Mala bridge, a citizen who resides near the area has written to the executive engineer of Works Division III, under whose jurisdiction the area comes.
"The contamination/smell has even reached beyond Jairam Complex, Neugi Nagar, and on the other side near Provedoria, along the Rua de Ourem. I understand that this is because of the non-functioning Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of the PWD near the new Mala bridge at Patto Plaza," wrote the citizen.
In view of the public health hazard posed by the odour, the citizen requested the authorities concerned to take urgent steps to set the matter right.
A copy of the letter was sent to the North Goa Collector, the Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panjim, the Chief Secretary, the Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the Chief Minister of Goa, the Minister for PWD, the Secretary (PWD), and the Health Officer of the Urban Health Centre in the city.
When contacted, chairman of the GSPCB Ganesh Shetgaonkar acknowledged the problem, and said that a meeting with the engineer in-charge of the STP had already been scheduled. The engineers concerned had, in the past, reportedly not attended the meetings scheduled in regard to this problem.
Shetgaonkar also assured that they would jointly get to the root of the problem as the odour also created a problem for the schools nearby.
Dr Pritam Naik, Health Officer of the Panjim Urban Health Center informed that she had already written to the CCP in this regard and requested a joint inspection along with the councillor of the area, and officials in-charge of sewage, which should take place next week.
However, another official in the know, informed that the odour would persist until the new STP came up.
The odour was due to the sewage of the EDC building, he informed, and not because of the regular open defecation problem in the area.
