The residents, including Diego D’Silva, said that they were facing undue hardships without water. Vasant Velip added that even if they get water, the quality is poor and many times muddy.
When contacted, PWD Assistant Engineer (AE) (water supply division) Lester D’Souza stated that the motor pump at Mastimoll had failed and that it would be repaired by Saturday.
However, there is still no sign of the restoration of water supply.
Attempts to contact the AE about the present situation via phone were futile.
At present, the residents are hiring private water tankers, while those residing in high-rise buildings are hiring labourers to get water in buckets.
A PWD source said that the AE has the power to undertake maintenance works below Rs 5,000 per month, while works above that amount have to be sanctioned by the executive engineer from Margao.
He further stated that in this case, the failure of the high horsepower motor could be linked to a burnt copper wire and that rewinding of the motor will cost over Rs 25,000. He noted that bare copper metal in the market costs around Rs 1,000 and the copper wire used in the motor is enamelled, which cost much more. He added that the AE and his staff are helpless as they have to approach the higher authorities for a sanction.
