PANAJI
Villagers residing around the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim have raised fears of contamination of the tap water supply due to a breach in the sewage pipeline, which allegedly led to large amounts of sewage flowing out of the complex and down the slopes into their village.
A group of villagers say the spill has persisted for days, with untreated sewage flowing unchecked from the hospital complex.
“We are worried that our drinking water is unsafe. Authorities have not acted despite being alerted,” a villager said, adding that a couple of residents have already begun receiving dirty water through their taps.
The incident has sparked concerns that sewage could enter the nearby potable water lines. The risk is compounded by the onset of the monsoon, when runoff can carry contaminants deeper into the supply network.
Residents also alleged laxity on the part of the authorities despite it being a premier government medical institution.
The authorities, meanwhile, are yet to issue a formal response, even as residents and local panchayat members said they will keep pressing the authorities to immediately plug the breach and repair the sewage pipeline.
