MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
mapusa/pernem: It’s high time that the government addresses the water shortage issue in the State and works on a solution to solve the issue since scarcity of water is forcing the people to get on the roads and fight for their basic rights.
Irregular water supply by the PWD is a nightmare to the people especially in Pernem and Bardez talukas and in the last one month, residents of several villages were forced to march to the office of PWD where they complained about the problems they had face, whilst demanding regular water supply.
While increase in the size of the local population and tourists visiting the State, coupled with old pipelines, rising commercial activities, the demand for water has become far bigger but the amount of water that is supplied is still the same. While this has been the reason locals have been suffering from water scarcity, the people from different parts of Bardez and Pernem, for several years now have been protesting against the government for failing to provide them with this basic facility.
People also claimed that the department issues water bills right on time but cannot provide water even for two hours regularly. There are few villages located near the plants that receive regular water supply but there are other villages, which receive supply but with very low pressure.
There have been incidents where women have fallen sick since they had to stay awake till late night waiting for water since there is no proper timing for release of water.
While in Pernem taluka, the most affected constituency is Mandrem; whereas in Bardez the most affected constituencies are Siolim, Calangute, Porvorim, Mapusa and Saligao.
Recently the residents of Porvorim had approached the PWD office demanding regular water supply, followed by residents of Mapusa, Siolim, Pernem and Canca who have threatened to call a morcha on the PWD if the department fails to provide regular water supply.
While the demand is increasing, from the last 30 years, the supply has remained the same in Pernem as well as Bardez Taluka. The Chandel water treatment plant treats 15 MLT of water, which is further supplied to both Mandrem and Pernem constituency having 20 villages and one municipality. On the other hand, the water treatment plant at Assonora treats around 100 MLT of water, which is further supplied to the whole of Bardez taluka.
What is also hampering any improvement is the lack of will on the part of the government, despite elected representatives constantly making promises to address the water supply issue. In reality, for the last ten years, the file of augmenting the existing 15 MLT Chandel plant to 30 MLT is still being processed.
People have also said that that instead of getting major projects, the govt should focus more on getting projects which will provide basic necessities of the people.
Suresh Polji a resident of Pernem said,'' Water is the most basic requirement to run a house and daily chores but getting irregular water supply is a headache since the government has failed to address this issue. Government needs to focus more on projects such as water treatment plants, improving water pipelines and health services which are basic requirements of common people”.
Another resident Sneha Salgaonkar opined, “We cannot run around and take to the streets just to ask the department to supply water. It’s been years now that this issue is pending. There is no regular supply of water. In case they do release water, we get very dirty water, which cannot be consumed. One side of the government is allowing more and more migrants, commercial buildings and tourists but is not ready to focus on making provision of regular water and electricity in the state. Now the department has called for a five- day shutdown in Pernem Taluka but has the department made any provision to provide water to people during these five days shutdown.”
"The Government needs to address the water scarcity issue by increasing the capacity of existing plants. For several years, the elected representatives are making promises to solve the water issue but in reality, they are not taking any any efforts to solve the issue", Saurabh Shirodkar said.
