Power and Rural Development Minister Subhash Phaldesai on Monday said he was against the practice of offering free water as a political promise, warning that it was causing heavy financial losses to the government.
Phaldesai pointed out that nearly 40% of water revenue was being lost due to theft, outdated pipelines and faulty meters. “The government cannot continue to give free water for votes when such losses are taking place,” he said.
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The minister also criticised the repeated digging of roads for utility works, alleging that such activities often benefit contractors more than the public. “We cannot go on digging roads to suit the contractor. Even I have suffered in my own constituency because of the power department’s road digging works,” Phaldesai noted.
His remarks come amid growing debate on the sustainability of free water schemes and the need for better infrastructure planning in Goa.
