Team Goemkarponn
VERNA: Frustration over the long-pending sewage discharge issue at Verna came to the fore on Thursday as Cortalim MLA Anton Vas confronted health officials, alleging that repeated complaints from residents and elected representatives have gone unaddressed for years.
Accompanied by officials from the Panchayat and Health Department, Vas visited the affected site to assess the situation firsthand. During the inspection, he expressed strong dissatisfaction over what he described as the authorities’ failure to take effective action despite several representations made by local residents and public representatives.
A heated exchange reportedly took place between the MLA and the Health Officer during discussions at the site. Vas questioned why the issue remained unresolved despite numerous complaints and inspections conducted over the years. He said residents have repeatedly raised concerns about sewage being discharged into the area, yet no permanent solution has been implemented.
The MLA pointed out that the continued discharge of sewage poses a serious threat to public health and the environment. He said the problem has become a major concern for people residing in the vicinity, particularly during the monsoon season when the impact of sewage overflow tends to worsen.
According to Vas, residents have been forced to endure foul odours, unhygienic conditions and the constant fear of health complications arising from prolonged exposure to contaminated surroundings. He stressed that the issue cannot be allowed to persist indefinitely and called for immediate intervention by the concerned departments.
During the inspection, Panchayat representatives also highlighted the difficulties faced by local residents and urged authorities to initiate remedial measures without delay. Officials present at the site discussed the prevailing situation and possible steps required to address the problem.
Vas demanded a time-bound action plan and called for better coordination among the departments concerned to ensure that corrective measures are implemented at the earliest. He further stated that accountability must be fixed if negligence or administrative lapses are found to have contributed to the prolonged delay in resolving the issue.
The MLA maintained that residents deserve a clean and safe environment and should not have to suffer due to official inaction. The inspection concluded with demands for urgent intervention and concrete steps to permanently resolve the sewage discharge problem.
Local residents expressed hope that the renewed attention to the issue would finally lead to a lasting solution after years of complaints and uncertainty.
