Team Herald
VASCO: Facing water crises is nothing new for the 350-odd families occupying quarters provided by the Goa Rehabilitation Board (GRB) at Headland Sada in Mormugao Constituency. However, this time these residents have lost all their patience because they have been living without water since last five days and they do not know when the water supply would be restored.
Ironically, these residents who were identified as the victims of natural disaster or project affected people and thus were shifted to GRB quarters. But they had no clue that they would be rehabilitated in a place where they would have to struggle for water practically every day and that no one would care for their cries.
“I have a two-year-old daughter and leaving her alone at home to fetch some water every day from overhead water reservoir (opposite Sada sub jail) located some 500 meters away from GRB quarters is not an easy task for me. But I have to do this every day; and God knows how many more months we will have to suffer like this,” said a housewife and a resident of GRB quarters.
Surprisingly, the issue of water crisis is something which has been neglected by the authorities concerned since last several years and still the department has not taken steps to resolve the same.
“We made representation to the local leaders; we even met some PWD officials, but since we are poor, there is nobody to help us. Today, our sump tanks are dirty with full of bacteria; coverless overhead tanks are always empty; and every day we have to walk to get water for our daily needs. Hope, someone will hear our grievance and would try to resolve our persistent issue of water crisis,” said another resident from GRB quarters.
GRB Chairman and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha however is ignorant about the issue. “I don’t know if the residents had even made any representation or informed GRB about the water issue. I will check and we would surely do something to resolve this issue,” Saldanha assured.
