Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: A major health scare has been reported at the Prabhu Violetta residential complex in Chicalim, Dabolim, after alleged water contamination left hundreds of residents suffering from diarrhoea and related illness. In a letter to the South Goa Collector, South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes termed the incident a “humanitarian crisis” and criticised the administration’s response to the situation.
According to the communication, 156 residents, including minors, were reportedly affected, while nearly 150 others sought treatment at private hospitals, taking the total number of affected persons to around 300. Residents expressed anger and anxiety over the lack of visits by senior officials during the crisis, stating that they felt neglected at a critical time.
The MP also alleged that untreated and contaminated borewell water was mixed with PWD supply in underground tanks, leading to widespread illness. He further claimed that the sewage treatment plant at the complex had failed within the first year of commissioning and was not repaired, resulting in untreated sewage discharge and long-standing sanitation issues.
Several grievances against the builder were highlighted, including failure to form a housing society, lack of financial transparency, illegal extraction of water, release of untreated sewage into storm drains, and intimidation of residents through legal cases. The letter also referenced an earlier complaint to the Goa State Pollution Control Board, which had reportedly imposed a fine on the builder for sewage discharge violations.
Calling the situation unprecedented, the MP urged the district administration to fix accountability, initiate action against the builder, and examine lapses by concerned departments. He also sought comprehensive remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents and restore confidence among residents.
