Team Herald
MARGAO: Villagers of Dhangarwadi of Paddi-Barcem panchayat, led by AAP Goa, staged a protest at the PWD office at Quepem on Wednesday, demanding immediate supply of water through tankers.
The villagers, mostly women, marched to the PWD office armed with empty water pots and bottles filled with polluted water.
AAP delegation comprising Patricia Fernandes, Neville Mascarenhas and Rupesh Velip, led by spokesperson Rajshree Nagarsekar met the assistant engineer A Karmakar along with villagers and explained the extent of the problem.
Villagers threatened him not to leave office till their demand of supplying drinking water through tankers was met. The PWD official assured them that water would be supplied through tankers in two days. The villagers were also assured that the work of setting up of filters and flushing of the existing pipe would be carried out on priority.
Villagers informed that a bore well, drilled some 40 years ago and a 1000 litre water tank was the only facility for drinking water.
“For the past few years we have been facing hardship for drinking water, as the water pumped is muddy. This is basically due to the corroded pump that has outlived its utility and rust flows through it, thereby rendering the pumped water unsafe for human consumption,” village head, Dhulo Dhangar explained,
The tank is also damaged and is not sufficient for all. We had complained to the concerned department, but no action has been taken, he said, adding that more villagers would stage a dharna if authorities fail to provide water in two days.
