BASURI DESAI
PANJIM: The Public Works Department (PWD) and the Health Minster have got engaged in a blame game over the water crisis at Goa Medical College (GMC) even as patients continue to suffer.
A day after Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Francis D’Souza blamed PWD for the water shortage at GMC, PWD hit back saying they supply more than the demanded
quantity.
Speaking to Herald Principal Chief Engineer of PWD D J Borkar said, “We are supplying more water than requested by the GMC authorities. There is a demand to supply 700 to 800 cubic meters of water daily but we are supplying 1000 cubic metres of water.”
However, he said, there is additional need of water now which GMC is asking for but with the existing water supply from Opa it is not possible to provide it.
“Whenever there is shortage of water we provide water through tankers to GMC. PWD cannot be blamed for lack of water,” Borkar said.
Speaking further Borkar said GMC has internal distribution issues which results in leakage and water being wasted.
“Given the present supply of water, the needs of the hospital can be managed with some slight discipline in usage,” Borkar said.
He said that in the next six months a project at Opa with 21 MLD capacity and a 10 MLD project at Shiroda will be functional. After that the water supply to Panjim and surrounding areas will be resolved.
“We had meetings and discussions with GMC officials and also brought to their notice about the factual position of water supply. They should rectify their internal water distribution system,” Borkar said.
He added that maintenance of GMC is not with PWD and is undertaken by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC).
Following a report in Herald on Saturday on the issues plaguing GMC, D’Souza had blamed PWD for shortage of water in the hospital. He had said that PWD officials have been told of the shortage of water in GMC but have not resolved the matter.
“The PWD promised to supply water through tanks but that is not happening regularly,” D’Souza had said.
