New Vaddem locals seek demolition of overhead tank

An unused overhead water tank in the middle of a residential area near the Housing Board in New Vaddem, Vasco, is on the verge of collapse. As the same poses a threat to their lives, the residents have demanded the immediate demolition of the tank. 

According to the residents, the 25 cubic meter capacity tank, which is in the PWD premises in New Vaddem, was constructed some 40 years ago. Later, to meet with the growing need for water, the PWD constructed a 650 cubic meter tank adjacent to the old one and stopped using the latter.

The old tank has not been used since then, and after 20 odd years of neglect, the tank has begun posing a threat to the people living in the vicinity. The PWD had even declared the old tank as unsafe, but still no efforts have been made to demolish the same.

“We believe that the PWD is waiting for a disaster to happen and only then they will act. In the last several years, the old tank has been showing signs of deterioration, with concrete chips breaking off at regular intervals and creating apprehension about its safety. It is high time that the PWD realize the seriousness of the issue and demolish the tank before there is a tragedy. The PWD should immediately demolish the old tank and construct a new one so that the people of New Vaddem can get more water,” said Chandrakant Gawas, a resident of New Vaddem.

He also claimed that he written several letters to the PWD seeking action, but his pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

Another New Vaddem resident, Pravin Kolhapurkar, stated, “The tank also poses a threat to commuters as it is near the main road, which is connects the highway from Goa Shipyard. A few days ago, a car that was parked beside the road near the tank got damaged as concrete from the four pillars started falling on the car. As such incidents have become routine, people now make sure that they are nowhere close to the overhead water tank, which still stands tall but can collapse anytime.”

A PWD official from Vasco acknowledged that the tank might collapse anytime, but claimed helplessness in taking action. He said, “It is true that the old tank was identified as a dangerous structure several years ago, but we need approval from the higher-ups to demolish the same. We can only ask people not to go close to the tank.”