Team Herald
MAPUSA: People across Bardez especially Saligao, Porvorim, Mapusa and Calangute are getting scarce water supply and to add to their woes the water is dirty. People are forced to use this dirty water for drinking, cooking and other household activities.
The residents of Bardez are angry and frustrated with the authorities for failing to provide them with adequate and portable water.
A resident of Mapusa, Cleto Fernandes pointed out that the AE is giving false excuses and assurances to the people that there is a fault at the Assonora Water Treatment Plant. “Big hotels, restaurants and establishements in the town are receiving regular water but the common man is deprived of this basic amenity,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar highlighted that it was a sad state of affairs as the government was unable to provide the people with adequate and portable water.
“Water, which is a basic necessity of the people is not being provided. The common man does not have a filter and neither is it possible to buy packaged water on a daily basis. We demand that clean and regular supply of water be provided to the residents of Bardez. At the same time 50 per cent concession on water bills should be provided to the people of Bardez due to the scarce and dirty water received from last month,” said Panjikar.
Three weeks ago, a delegation from the North Goa District Congress Block Committee along with party workers had confronted the Mapusa PWD Assistant Engineer, Subhash Belgaonkar over the issue plaguing the residents of Bardez and demanded answers.
It may be recalled that the matter regarding scarce and dirty water was raised by legislators Jayesh Salgaonkar and Rohan Khaunte during the Zero Hour in the assembly. They had pointed out that Saligao and Porvorim constituency are getting muddy and dirty water since July 10. The Porvorim MLA had also pointed out that he had sent a bottle of dirty and muddy water to the Health Department for testing. They also mentioned that complaints were made to the PWD and there was a fear this could lead to vector borne diseases.
