VASCO: Aggrieved by the erratic water supply for the last few months, the Lamani colony in Birla-Zuarinagar and the Sancoale panchayat blocked the entrance of Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) premises in Sancoale and confronted the IDC area manager on Monday. They demanded an immediate solution to the issue, failing which they threatened to intensify their agitation.
Around 300 families of the Lamani colony are waiting for a dedicated Public Works Department (PWD) water pipeline. Presently, they have been given PWD connections through overhead tanks (OHT) operated and managed by the IDC. However, they have been facing an erratic water supply in the last few months. In the last few weeks, they have been forced to get water either through tankers or from neighbouring villages.
The residents also alleged that whenever they questioned IDC officials over the issue, the officials greeted the women with abusive and defamatory language. As there was no end to the issue, Sancoale panch Govind Lamani stated that the residents had no option but to agitate on the streets.
On Monday, over 100 women and a few men gathered at the IDC area manager’s office with pots and buckets in hand. Fearing that the situation would go out of control, Sancoale Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar, panch Narayan Naik and Sancoale ZP member Mariano Rodrigues rushed to the site to pacify the residents.
PWD Technical Assistant Mohan Naik informed Borkar that the PWD released sufficient water to IDC and the water shortage could be due to some other manmade reasons. Borkar and others later confronted IDC officials with the demand to resolve the issue on that same day.
“I was informed that the person who operates the OHT is doing some mischief. When I questioned IDC officials, they blamed the PWD. However, the IDC officials later said they would ensure the immediate resumption of normal water supply and action against the rude staff. We have given them one week to act. If a similar situation arises, then we will come back, and IDC officials will be held responsible for any law and order issues that arise,” said Borkar
Interestingly, PWD releases 600 cubic meters of water to IDC, which claims that it requires only 200 cubic meters for industrial units, while locals require around 100-150 cubic meters. If there is water crisis, it is for the IDC and PWD to investigate where 200-250 cubic meters of water gets wasted.
