Team Herald
PANJIM: The opposition Congress Party on Friday alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is running tanker mafia in nine talukas of the State with zero revenue to the government.
The Congress demanded a high-level inquiry Commission under a retired High Court Judge to investigate the operations of water tankers in the State and role of various government departments in promoting illegalities in the said business.
A delegation led by its president Amit Patkar submitted a memorandum to Water Resource Department (WRD) demanding action against the water tanker caught transporting sewage at Sancoale. The Congman charged that the government gets revenue from water tanker operators only from Pernem, Bardez and Tiswadi taluka and produced documentary evidence to substantiate his claim.
Surprisingly, after grilled by Congress workers, WRD Engineer Pramod Badami said that water supplied through takers is not meant for drinking.
“There is absolutely no control of WRD on water tanker operations in the State. This has resulted in direct threat to the health of the people due to blatant violations of guidelines by greedy tanker operators,” Patkar said.
Patkar said that it was shocking when WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami told them that people should not use tanker water for drinking purpose.
Earlier, police stopped the Congress delegation from meeting the WRD Chief Engineer. However after heated arguments, they were allowed inside.
