Team Herald
Mapusa: Residents of Siolim constituency made the right noise on Thursday by gathering at Siolim junction with empty vessels in protest against irregular water supply.
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Residents of Badem, Bandiwada and Chapora, who had come together to voice their angst, said that for the last two months they have been hardly receiving any water from the PWD taps, making it difficult for them to survive.
When PWD officials learnt about the same, they reached the spot and tried to bring the situation under control. However, a heated argument took place between locals and the PWD official.
The protesters said that there is an independent pipeline for Baddem, Bandiwada and Chapora. However, the water is being diverted to Vadi Siolim.
Residents further questioned the official that how during some occasions like election, festivals, visits by the minister, water supply becomes regular and during other times, there are “technical issues”.
“How is it that during elections, festivals the water supply is regular? When we pay the bills, then why is there no water supply? This is an everyday issue.
While we get water on alternate days, it should be at least for four hours. But water does not come even for two hours,” a protester said.
“Every time the issue is raised and meetings are held, all we get is assurance. We even voted out MLAs, but the problem has remained as it is. During rains, elections, minister visits, festivals the supply is normal,” another protester pointed out.
“This problem has persisted for the past forty years. So many ministers have changed, but none have managed to solve the issue. Nobody is bothered about us. Since the last one-and-a-half months, we have not received a single drop of water,” the women protestors said.
