PORVORIM, JAN 20
Ignoring the hardship of people of Porvorim hit by frequent water scarcity, political squabbles came to the fore during the inauguration of one Over Head Reservoir (OHR) in Porvorim.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar boycotted the inauguration of the OHR at Defence Colony in Porvorim, in a virtual snub to PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who was left fuming at Socorro.
Kamat had earlier inaugurated the OHR of 650 cubic mtrs capacity at Socorro spending Rs 1.08 crore in the presence of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar.
However, the chief minister did not inaugurate the second OHR at Defence Colony, as Aldona MLA Narvekar refused to attend the function at Defence Colony.
Narvekar claimed that the tank was not painted and that, no official invitation was sent to him.
During the inauguration of the first OHR at Socorro, Narvekar complained to Kamat that he did not receive any official intimation regarding inauguration of both OHRs from the PWD nor was any invitation sent to Socorro panch members.
Defending his department, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao said that he had informed Narvekar over the phone on Wednesday night about the inauguration of the two overhead water tanks and hence it was his responsibility to invite Socorro panch members.
As Narvekar refused to attend the inauguration of the Over Head Reservoir at Defence Colony, Kamat left for Margao without attending the function and delivering his speech.
Later speaking to reporters at Socorro, Alemao said sending invitation is merely a formality and it should not have been made an issue.
“What is important is the supply of water to the people,” said Alemao adding that he has ensured that the construction of overhead water tank was completed at the soonest possible time.
“With the completion of this overhead water tank, Socorro residents will get water for 24 hours,” assured Alemao.
When Herald asked Alemao how PWD can guarantee water supply for 24 hours unless improvement in the power supply at Assonora reservoir, he said it is duty of the power minister of ensure adequate power supply to Assonora Reservoir.
But when asked for the deadline to supply water for 24 hours, he asked Executive Engineer H Kamaladini to reply to the query.
Kamaladini said with the existing infrastructure, PWD can supply water for four hours only to Socorro.
When Narvekar was asked for the reasons as to why he refused to inaugurate the OHR at Defence Colony, he said: “In the first place, I did not receive any official invitation from the PWD about the function nor the Socorro and Salvador-do-Mundo Panchayats.”
“Besides, the Over Head Reservoirs at Defence Colony has not been painted. What was the hurry in inaugurating these over head tanks? In fact, the overhead water tank at Socorro has already been commissioned unofficially six months ago and the one at Defence Colony three months ago,” he said.
“The PWD has now realised that these tanks have not been inaugurated and to install their names on the plaque, this function has been organized hurriedly,” claimed Narvekar.
Since Kamat and Narvekar boycotted the function at Defence Colony, Porvorim, Alemao did not go there as well and the function had to be called off abruptly.
In the bargain, the amount spent by PWD to erect the pandal at the site of OHR at Defence Colony and on refreshments went gone down the drain, as the function could not take place due to mismanagement by PWD officials.
