MARGAO: South Goa Citizens on Friday expressed shock and anger against the concerned department as thousands of water taps run dry a day prior to the scheduled shutdown for the repair of Salaulim Water Treatment plant.
According to Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Sanguem, there will be restricted water supply from Salaulim water works to Sanguem, Quepem, Salcete and Marmugao talukas on December 17 and 18. However, thousands of people were in for a shock as their taps went dry on December 16 itself.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
It is pertinent to note that this is the second time in the last 30 days the department has restricted the water supply in South Goa and that too after 15 days.
It has been brought to the notice of Herald that
Several citizens, mostly from the rural areas, complained to Herald that as water supply was stopped on December 16, and they could not even store water.
Speaking to Herald, Lawrenco D’Costa from Curtorim said, “We have been facing scarcity of water for the last many years and adding to this shut down the water treatment plant has resulted in more problems. How can we live without water for three days?” he questioned.
Roshni Desai, a housewife from Quepem also expressed anger and said the government and the concerned department has no concern for the people, who are facing difficulties due to water supply.
“This time the PWD officials have crossed the limits by restricting the water supply prior to the days scheduled for the shut down. Now, from where should we bring the water and cook food?” she said.
Even the citizens residing in the urban areas in Salcete and Mormugao, who have sought provisions to store the water, expressed anger over the issue.
At a few places water supply scarcity problems started two days prior to the shutdown announced from December 17, informed a citizen of Navelim.
As per the public notice issued by the concerned engineer they have cited the reason for repair work of the MBR gate of 160 MLD Salaulim Water Treatment Plant from 8 am to 8 pm. Shockingly, this is not the first time. It has been noticed that the department is carrying out the repair works after a gap of every 15 days.
Acute water shortage angers Arambol locals
PERNEM: Residents of Khalchawada, Girkarwada and Madhalawada from Arambol village expressed their anger over the acute water shortage in their wards during the village development committee meeting held on Friday.
During the meeting, residents highlighted that for several years, they have been facing the problem of water shortage which is causing major inconvenience to them since the village is a touristic area. “Being a tourist village the government has failed to provide basic necessities, especially water. Also the water that is supplied through tankers is irregular which is provided only to some areas and not to the whole locality”, a local said.
Responding to grievances raised by villagers, AE Walson who was also present at the meeting said that the root cause of water scarcity in the Arambol area is yet to be ascertained by the engineers of his department.
People further pointed out that pipelines which are damaged during development of roads are not repaired and as a result leads to wastage of water. People demanded that the pipeline which had burst during the repair of roads should be repaired at the earliest. People also said that they have also installed booster pumps, however they are ineffective due to lack of water.
