Khola residents suspect something fishy in overhead tank construction
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, JUN 19
While residents in Porvorim have been crying hoarse over the erratic water supply, the government goes ahead and commissions an overhead reservoir in Canacona even when there has been no demand for the reservoir.
Residents of Khola have now suspected something fishy in the construction of an enhanced capacity overhead tank, especially when there has been no demand either from the panchayat or locals in the area.
A 150 cu-m capacity overhead reservoir at Gowal-Khola is slated to be commissioned by PWD minister Churchill Alemao on Sunday.
Interestingly, locals allege they have never demanded an overhead tank in the locality. The existing arrangements with a 25 cu.m tank catering to just around 150 tap connections, besides various water bodies like house wells, borewells and even springs were sufficient enough to meet the existing demand of people even in April-may months.
The locals were, therefore, taken aback when the PWD (Water Supply) came up with the project.
This has fuelled speculation that the government may be clandestinely trying to make sufficient water provisions for some mega projects by some land sharks from Delhi and elsewhere. This vacant land is in the close proximity to the newly constructed 150 Cu.m water reservoir at Gowal-Khola.
“In the last Gram Sabha meeting of Khola village, residents demanded to know the beneficiaries of this overhead tank,” said Khola Bachao Abhiyan President Precopio Fernandes.
When contacted, a PWD official, however, claimed that the enhanced overhead water reservoir was first mooted in 2005, after residents of Kurdi were vehemently complaining of insufficient water supply serviced by a ground level existing tank of just 25 Cu.m.
“We don’t know about any hotel projects coming or even mentioned in the justification of proposal which finally got administrative approval in 2007, but the proposal to extend the water supply to other areas like Kurdi and Cabo-de-Rama and beyond is also mooted,” informed the official.
“At present, there are approximately 150 tap connections and residents regularly complain of insufficient water supply. Once this 150 cu.m overhead reservoir is commissioned, it can serve around 800-850 residents from Kurdi, Gowal and Cabo-de-Rama. Besides, if people are interested, the water can be extended to areas like Nuem, New-Wada and Molorem.”
Interestingly, PWD (water supply) sources informed that as the existing bore wells are inefficient to pump water even 25 cu.m on the land tank, some irrigation bore wells, which provides uninterrupted stock even in April-May months have been earmarked to meet the water requirement needs of 150 OH reservoir.
It may be recalled that Khola residents are vehemently opposed to any commercial activities like mega hotels in barren and vacant land, which are already bought by outside land sharks, including one from Delhi. If locals are to be believed, these sharks are trying every means to commence hotel/resort projects in their purchased land.
When contacted, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar, presently nurturing Khola village after the latest delimitation of assembly segment, said: “Frankly speaking, I’m still unaware of the actual number of people to benefit from the project, as the proposal was a previous one. I have only followed it to get the works completed.”
Incidentally, the PWD informed that a proposal is also in the pipeline to pump Salaulim dam water to this tank, which, presently, has its supply lines up to the ONGC plateau, Betul-Khanahuinim.
The Quepem MLA has evinced keen interest to pursue water supply arrangements from Salaulim Dam to Gowal Tank.
