Carmona VP to issue show cause notices to house owners

Margao: Carmona panchayat during its meeting on Wednesday decided to issue show cause notices to house owners releasing sewage into public drains and nullahs. So far the panchayat has inspected and noticed over five incidents of house owners releasing sewage water directly into drains and nullahs in the village. 

Speaking about the decision taken, village sarpanch Allwyn Jorge said action would be initiated against the house owners with the help of the health department. “We have come across many instances and have inspected over five cases where house owners are deliberately using open pig type toilets and releasing the sewage into public nullahs and also releasing dirty water into the drains and nullahs. We have inspected the sites with the health department and action will be initiated by both of us as per relevant provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act and the Health Act,” he said. 

Under the acts, electricity and water connections can be disconnected for violating the laws. Jorge said they would also withdraw occupancy certificates the panchayat had issued for houses found violating these laws.  “In addition to withdrawing occupancy certificates, we will also consider plugging all the openings. This is a serious issue as Goa has been declared as ODF and cannot have such situations. In some places, the public nullahs have been used as reservoirs of dirty sewage water which is a huge health risk for dengue and malaria outbreaks,” he said.