TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Civic rights activist Roland Martins has stated that the Water Resource Department (WRD) should create awareness among water tanker owners as well as bore well and other well owners on the importance of registering themselves with the WRD.
Martins was interacting with WRD and other government officials at the Mormugao deputy collector’s office in Vasco on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Martins stated that water tanker owners and the owners of bore wells and other wells find it difficult to register their tankers and wells with the WRD at Fatorda in Margao due to time-consuming procedures.
“The owner of a water tanker and a well has to spend two days, one day to collect the forms and the other day to submit the forms to register their tanker or well,” remarked Martins and he urged the WRD Executive Engineer Peter D’Souza to depute his officers every 15 days to the Mormugao deputy collector’s office with forms for the registration of the tankers and the wells.
Martins also urged D’Souza to send his team of experts to create awareness among the councillors and panch members of all nine panchayats of the Mormugao taluka on the registration of the tankers and wells.
Later speaking to reporters, Martins stated that the meeting was held in connection with the Ground Water Act and the water supplied to the consumers.
“The meeting conducted on Tuesday had positive results as we have identified major responsibilities to be taken up by the WRD. The WRD should start creating awareness in Mormugao taluka about the changes in the law,” he said.
“In 2012, the entire state was declared as a scheduled area, which means all wells need to be registered,” stated Martins.
“Earlier, only wells bordering the industrial estate or falling in the coastal area had to be registered. With Goa being declared as scheduled area, the wells in Mormugao municipal area and all nine panchayats of the Mormugao taluka should be registered with the WRD,” he added.
