Mud Sludge Threat Looms Over Odxel Residents as Inspections Continue
The spectre of mud sludge entering their homes continues to haunt about a dozen families living below the Odxel hillock, days after such an incident late on Wednesday night swept the extended Sarmalkar family from their home. Muddy sludge entered their home, and there was no way they could have spent the night there.
We were put in an alternative place by the administration for the night, a member of the family told The Goan, adding that the alternate accommodation was arranged at the behest of the local MLA and the panchayat. She said at least three of the houses there face the threat of sludge entering if it rains heavily, adding that she is unaware if the mud dumped atop the hill had been cleared.
Meanwhile, officials from the Panaji deputy collector's office and the North Goa Collectorate inspected the site atop the hill where a real estate project is coming up and mounds of rubble and mud have been dumped. The inspections were conducted on Thursday and Friday, but until Saturday evening, the mounds of mud which pose the threat of flowing into the homes at the bottom of the hill had not been cleared.
No official in these two offices were willing to comment on these inspections or their outcomes. The incident on Wednesday where muddy sludge entered the Sarmalkar household had triggered a huge confrontation at the site between local MLA Jennifer Monserrate and her rival Cecille Rodrigues of the Aam Aadmi Party when both reached there to attend to the residents. Rodrigues, who was accompanied by AAP leader Francis Coelho and others, alleged that she was physically pushed and abused by the MLA. She has filed a formal police complaint at the Panaji police station in which she has named Monserrate, Taleigao panch Sidney Barreto, and others.
The ongoing situation highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of the residents. Local authorities and real estate developers must work together to address the root causes of this environmental hazard and provide a secure living environment for the community.
