PANJIM: In a frank assessment of the situation in Goa, the new PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral stated that at the present moment it is not possible to give a 24/7 water supply to the people of Goa. He went a step further and said that he will request Chief Minister Pramod Sawant not to give any new water supply connections until the issues of water supply are resolved.
Cabral was responding to queries from media persons on Monday about the protests both in the South and North over water supply issues.
Cabral however claimed that there are some people who take a meter and then give out ten rooms on rent and that he will not pay attention to the demands of such people and that he will see that action is taken against those who are indulging in such illegal practices.
He however sympathised with those who are genuinely facing water issues and said there was a time when even his own house, his flat on the third floor of a building in Curchorem faced water supply issues but they found a solution. He said they managed to deal with the problem by making sure they use the water judiciously and that this way they managed to have adequate water throughout the day. He however admitted that there are still some issues in April and May where there is less water supply, which is a problem across the State that they will try to resolve.
“We will try and see that at least for 4-5 hours in a day there is continuous interrupted water supply (in the areas facing water issues). Providing water supply 24/7 is still a dream but we are working towards fulfilling this too. But presently that is not possible. I will study this matter further though and can’t comment on the exact position of the department right now,” said Cabral.
The Minister lamented that there is not sufficient place to do large-scale water conservation such as building of water reservoirs. He blamed those who indulge in illegal activities like selling plots without keeping space for parking facilities and that construction comes up in areas dedicated for parking. He also called for actions against those who are selling illegal plots which is adding to the land scarcity issue.
The former Power Minister also spoke about how it is very easy to get a new electrical and water connection and NOCs from departments concerned and said there is a need to stop giving out connections so easily, like water supply connections in this case until the infrastructure issues are resolved and action taken against illegalities that are draining the State’s resources.
