Panaji construction norms not being observed at St Inez nallah near Sewage Treatment Plant

By Stephen Dias

ON July 3O, 2O21 at around 1pm I met a person hired by a well-known contractor of M/s Larsen and Toubro, who executed a project on the new Mandovi bridge where construction is still in a total mess, the whole Kadamba plateau road and Merces are in a shamble.
The same contractor hired a person whom I met, he was directing his workers to install a 200 KVA power line from 11 KV line, to be connected to a step down transformer belonging to a construction coming up in full swing and apparently owned by well-known businessman Anil Counto. It appears that an approval has been received from the Electricity department for this connection. This project has dozens of buildings where heavy construction with high range tall JCB inside their area is seen and other number of small JCBs on the job on this pandemic season.
All these constructions require heavy power and water connectivity. I had earlier complained in local newspapers that this construction had no display board and the security guard could not even give me its location. Immediately a board was quickly installed at the entrance apparently due to pressure ( see the picture).
I was told by the Electricity departmental staff that they were sent to execute the work to give connection to their step down transformer which will generate the required electricity to be supplied to all these buildings coming up. These buildings will load the incoming 11 KV line and PWD water consumption. This will surely affect mostly the residents of nearby areas of Tonca, Caranzalem, St Inez and in fact the whole of Panaji.
Already we are suffering for intermittent power breakdowns in all the three phases with low voltages in whole of Tiswadi, especially in Dona Paula, St Inez and Caranzalem. Being a knowledgeable person in this field I know the high tension line will surely trip and damage newly installed transformers. When voltages in all the three-phase are irregular, the domestic appliances will burn and damage will take place.
Coming back to the area near STP plant where the connection is already made, after digging up a big trench where water pipeline is passing very closely along with the high tension line as chances of severe leakage to domestic line could take place and electrocution is evident.

st inez horror story

Another problem I have noticed is this construction is discharging dirty water in the creek near the small bridge close to Monteiro garage and sewage discharge is going on all along the high rise building around the creek. With several press reports and writers, NGOs brought to the notice of the authorities like CCP, PDA, PANCHAYAT and PWD. But this government’s authorities are still not solving the situation! So the creek continues to be heavily polluted and I am not sure if even this Panjim MLA Babush Monserrate will be able to solve the problems of Ponjekars. See the photo here, of the construction gutter coming from this building at STP plant is routed through this same area where the power line as well as water line is passing.
Worst of all there are no gutters to drain the rain water stagnation into the Mandovi river as the having a back flow, especially at Miramar- Campal area, near Customs House and Portais, Fontainhas — close to both petrol pump areas. The CCP is unable to set things right as it has lost the original plans of Portuguese records.
Casino menace too will not be solved as Tourism and Home departments want the casinos to continue, not realising that the sea water is being polluted by them as sewage is dumped into the river Mandovi. I have seen a number of sewage trucks been loaded at the Panjim jetty and the Captain of Ports staff doesn’t allow people to come close to the loading operation, I was asked to vacate the jetty. Which once upon a time during my young days was a rest and recreation place and now we see here casino stalls and buildings are under construction. Despite the Traffic department objecting to the parking going on the main road which is heavily booked by the casino owners.
No wonder because of all this Ponjekars are complaining of health hazards and suffering complications of dengue, malaria, sinus, skin rash, lung infections. The Health department overlooks all these problems while issuing licences and approvals for all these illegal installations. Ditto for Fire Brigade, Mamlatdar, Collector, NGPDA, Taleigao panchayat, CCP, Traffic department, Tourism department, etc. They are least bothered if the public continues to suffer.