Team Herald
PANJIM: An open water tank without a protective wall, lying in a state of disuse for the past several years, is posing a serious threat to the residents of Bhatlem, in Panjim.
The tank constructed during the Portuguese era, until recently was a source of water to Panjim, but is now lying open and contaminated due to sewerage works. The residents have made repeated requests to the authorities to construct a compound wall to prevent people and animals from accidently falling into the well. However, no action has been taken so far.
After being haunted by the sewage flowing in front of their houses, the residents in the State’s capital are struggling with almost no supply of water, and if cleaned the tank water can be used as a source of water.
According to the residents, the water from the two tanks was earlier pumped and was supplied to Altinho areas. But after sewage mixed with water from these tanks, it was stopped and now they are left in ruins.
Team Herald found that a portion of one of the water tanks had collapsed and poses danger as the residents, who use the contaminated water for gardening in the compound of an adjacent Sati Bhavani temple. The other water tank is covered from top and residents use the water for purposes other than drinking, whenever there water shortage in the area.
