PANJIM: In a severe albeit not inapposite order, the Health Officer of the Mapusa Urban Health Centre has directed the PWD to cut of the water supply to a prominent Hospital located at Peddem-Mapusa after the Hospital failed to comply with his directions and rein in their sewage problem which was affected the residents staying behind the hospital. 

The Hospital’s water supply was however restored soon later.

The Health Officer of the Urban Health Centre had earlier issued a notice to the Hospital asking them to repair and reconstruct a soak pit within their premises within 21 days, which according to a re-inspection of the Hospital by the Health Centre authorities they had failed to do, which prompted the HO to issue the notice. 

“On re-inspection of the site on Saturday 26/05/2012 it is noticed that they have not compiled with the directions contained in the notices... you are hereby directed to disconnect the water supply of the above premises with immediate effect till further instructions,” a letter written by Mapusa Urban Health Centre Health Officer, Chandrakant Porob to the Assistant Engineer PWD water supply reads. 

The residents of Carrascowado who stay behind the Hospital have been battling against the Hospital located in the area popularly called Peddem, saying that the hospital has been discharging its sewage into the open road and into their properties and houses. The issue has been raging for more than a year now, with the authorities getting into the act only this year. 

The Goa state Pollution Control Board in its inspection of the site conducted on March 26 brought out the gory details of the hospital’s deeds. In its report the board made a mention of Sewage water seeping through the rear side compound wall of the hospital and onto the road, a "sewage chamber was open", Bio Medical Waste such as catheters, vials with bloodstains packed in plastic bags and given to the municipality without treating, 'worms were seen breeding in one of the food waste bins. 

Worse the GSPCB reported that the hospital failed to show necessary equipment for Bio Medical Waste treatment and that they used to just burn medicines bottles, syringes etc along the road. They also did not have the consent to operate under the Air and Water Act, consent for hazardous waste and bio medical waste. 

When contacted Dr Digambar Naik, the Managing Director of the Hospital said that the problem is caused because the traditional flow of water has been blocked and denied that the water flowing there is sewage water. 

“These people have blocked the traditional flow of water, which is why there is a problem. I am trying to get the municipality to open the blocked drains. Secondly, the water that is flowing is not sewage. All our sewage water is treated as we have an in-house sewage treatment plant. All the water that flows is treated water that is used for the garden and other purposes,” Dr Naik claimed. He disclosed that he had no intention of harming anyone or the environment in particular.