Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: Amid the diarrhoea outbreak at Prabhu Violetta, Amit Prabhu of Prabhu Realtors on Thursday strongly denied allegations of water contamination, stating that the developer had not received any prior intimation from residents before the issue surfaced in the media.
Addressing reporters in Vasco, Prabhu said the claims came as a surprise and insisted that no resident had officially raised concerns about water quality. “We had not received any prior intimation regarding any contamination issue. We came to know about the matter only after certain media reports quoted a flat owner alleging contamination and inaction on the part of the builder,” he said.
Detailing the timeline, Prabhu pointed out that routine maintenance work was already underway just before the issue became public. “A day before the news appeared, we had undertaken our scheduled quarterly cleaning of overhead water tanks. On that very day, the same flat owner who later spoke in the media had sent us an email, but it only mentioned disturbance caused due to the cleaning activity. There was no mention of any contamination concern. Had such an issue been brought to our notice, we would have immediately taken corrective steps,” he said.
Prabhu maintained that upon learning about the situation, the developer acted without delay to prevent any possible risk. “As a precautionary measure, we immediately stopped the supply of borewell water. The complex has two separate systems — an underground sump for PWD water and another for borewell water, along with separate overhead tanks. PWD water is supplied to kitchen taps for drinking purposes, while borewell water was being used for non-potable uses such as flushing and bathing,” he explained.
“Despite this separation, we decided to eliminate any scope for doubt and discontinued borewell usage entirely. We shifted to PWD supply and tanker water sourced from government-approved vendors. All three underground tanks were cleaned thoroughly, checked for seepage, and ensured to be contamination-free. At present, residents are being provided with safe PWD water,” he added.
He further informed that water samples have been collected for testing. “Samples of tanker water have been sent for laboratory analysis, and the results are expected in the coming days. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure there is no compromise on water quality,” he said.
Refuting allegations regarding sewage infrastructure, Prabhu asserted that both sewage treatment plants are functioning properly. “The STPs are fully operational and there is no malfunctioning. Treated water is being used strictly for gardening purposes. There is absolutely no mixing of sewage-treated water with drinking water tanks, and this has been verified by our technical team,” he said.
On allegations of negligence and lack of communication, Prabhu said the developer has always remained accessible. “It is incorrect to say that we are not responding. We have representatives present at the complex, residents have our contact details, and they can reach us through email or office communication. Instead of approaching us, the issue was taken directly to the media, which created unnecessary panic,” he said.
Addressing the long-pending issue of society formation, Prabhu said residents themselves have not taken required steps. “There are allegations that we are not handing over the society. However, multiple notices have been issued to residents to form a housing cooperative society. These include communications from the registrar’s office as well. Despite three intimations, residents have not come forward to form a committee,” he said.
Prabhu also reacted to claims linking the builder to the outbreak. “Blaming the builder without establishing facts is unfair. We have taken preventive steps immediately after becoming aware of the situation and are willing to take further measures if required,” he said.
Appealing for calm, he urged residents to avoid creating panic and instead work towards resolving the issue collectively. “Residents should not create a situation that harms the reputation of the complex. If there are any concerns regarding preventive measures or further steps, they are welcome to approach us directly. We are open to discussion and ready to take all necessary actions to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he added.
